Bicyclist injured in crash on Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor remains in critical condition
The medical status of the 55-year-old Ann Arbor woman who was hit by a sport utility vehicle while riding her bike across Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor has not changed, police said Tuesday.
Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said the woman still is in critical condition at University of Michigan Hospital. There’s been little change in her status since she was first admitted after the crash at 5:40 p.m. Aug. 13.
A marked crosswalk located on Washtenaw near Platt where a bicyclist was struck by a car Aug. 13.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
The woman suffered a head injury and several broken bones during the accident. A 25-year-old Ann Arbor man driving a 1999 Ford sport utility vehicle hit the woman as she crossed Washtenaw Avenue on her bike in the crosswalk, police said. A witness told AnnArbor.com the woman was sent flying approximately 7 feet in the air before coming to rest on her side.
Huron Valley Ambulance transported her to U-M hospital in critical condition.
Bush said the case is still open and not turned over to Washtenaw County prosecutors because police are still waiting for a final determination on the woman’s health status. The possibility that the woman’s health could improve or worsen is one of the few things keeping police from turning investigation materials over to prosecutors.
“We can’t do anything until we know how her medical condition is,” Bush said. “It’s an open case until something happens.”
It’s possible that prosecutors may make a decision on charges before the woman’s permanent condition is known, Bush said, but at this point police are unclear on what will happen.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
LatersBaby
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 : 3:53 p.m.
Any way we can get updates of this story? I have been looking and am also interested to hear what the driver of the SUV will get charged with, if anything.
greener_tea
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 6:24 p.m.
Thank you Kyle for the update. I want to follow this story and so hope the woman will be okay despite her critical condition. It seems the epitome of unintended consequences of A2s new pedestrian law. The map in the original story, of bike and pedestrian accidents involving cars, was a real eye opener. Too many accidents. Bikers and drivers: be aware! Prayers for the woman who was hit and the man who hit her.
Val
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 5:30 p.m.
Way to go city of Ann Arbor. I had just turned down Madison from Seventh when I had to slam on my brakes as three children rode their bikes right in front of me. A man was standing in the middle of the street directing them to bike across without stopping, getting off of their bikes, looking for traffic and then crossing the street. In my day a biker had to stop, get off of the bike, look both ways and then cross the street when it was safe to cross. With the new training of children by this man I see some child being hit by a car because they believe it is safe to just ride out into the street just because they are at a crosswalk. Now we have a person teaching children it is ok to cross without looking because the all seeing car will stop per the City Ordinance. What a mess our City Council has created.
Matt Cooper
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 4:41 a.m.
"AnnArbor.com continues to attempt to reach the family to learn the woman's identity and get a better description of her status." And what exactly makes the good folks at AnnArbor.com think that the family wants to talk to you to give a better description of her status? What makes it AnnArbor.com's business? Or anyone elses for that matter? They don't have enough to worry about with their loved one being in critical condition in the hospital, they now need to worry about reporters from A2.com flying over like buzzards to gawk at the woman's wounds? Leave them be. They've been put through enough already.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
Did you consider the initial accident newsworthy? Because if the initial accident is newsworthy then follow up is part of the news business. The family has every right to decline an "interview".
snapshot
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:18 a.m.
I wish both the bicyclist and the driver well in this tragedy. I don't know how the law actually reads but the cross walk is a pedestrian easement and I was always taught to walk my bicycle across. If bicyclists are to obey traffic laws then riding your bike across a cross walk would be the same as driving a motor vehicle in the same manner which any reasonable person would likely recognize as an illegal and dangerous act.. This new pedestriand law needs some attention, as does this intersection, and many others in Ann Arbor. I'm not sure what actually happened but the article does state she was "riding" across Washtenaw. Too many pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclist are being killed on our roads. New and confusing laws will not help and don't seem to be helping. Education and proper enforcement of traffic laws will. The old is forever new.
ribs1
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:59 a.m.
I feel very sad for both involved in this incident. I really hope the women recovers. I also hope the best for the driver. Hopefully no charges will be brought. In my opinion this is an unfortunate accident.
LXIX
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:40 p.m.
I too bid the lady well. Perhaps City Council wishes to make a statement. At least the ward representative. I have yet to see the CTN replay of Monday evening's meeting so perhaps I missed it.. Can A2com confirm whether or not council members have been pressed for their relevant thoughts?
Linda Peck
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:21 p.m.
I send my prayers and blessings out to the woman who is healing.
JoeNuke
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:08 p.m.
Anyone else think we could find an "artistic" way to improve safety at this crosswalk so we could fund this?
LXIX
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 1:46 a.m.
1] Slowly Unfurl a flashing LED "waterfall" curtain across the road. Display a 60 second HD advertisement to pay for the screen as the pedestrian crosses in front (water dept.) 2] Erect a two story tall animated statue of the mayor with a flashing sword that lowers into traffic and then is raised once the pedestrian safely crosses (administration). 3] Hook a flat platform to the rear of a UMTRI smart golfcart for pedestrians to be shuttled to and fro across traffic. Attach a full scale cardboard cutout of a cruiser to the side of the golfcart (police). 4] Repeal the crosswalk law with an artistic flourish of the Council pen.
OverTaxed
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
One more comment. If this is such a walk everywhere city, why does everybody need there own crossWALK in front of their house (been down Miller Rd)? How about you take your healthy walking self down to the light and cross, instead of littering the road with dotted lines and non-aesthetic signage.
hepcat
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:46 a.m.
Miller could use at least one more crosswalk. There is a stretch of about a mile between Seventh St. and Maple without one. I am legally blind and cross in this area a number of times per month. This would be a big help to me.
OverTaxed
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.
First, I hope the woman gets better. Any injury is bad. Now, I do not know the facts, but was the woman walking her bike in the crossWALK? If she was and the driver did not see her, hopefully he was not drunk, it was an unfortunate accident. On the other hand, many bike riders in this city are insane. Are they a car or a pedestrian? They ride with the cars, then run the red lights. They use the traffic left turn lanes. The ride into a crossWALK. They ride through pedestrian crossings at lights. What driver can react fast enough to someone darting out in front of the off a curb? Here is a new ordinance, all riders must stop at crossings (when acting as pedestrians) to gives drivers a chance to see them. If a bicycle or even a runner thinks he can come full speed off a curb, then they may get hit. Can't blame the driver! Maybe A2 can also create an ordinance to clear corners of sight obstacles also. People walking from behind a bush into a crossWALK are hard to see.
jojojo
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 10:33 a.m.
OverTaxed - agree that bikes in the road need to follow the rules of the road, including stopping at stop signs and red lights. But in re left turn lanes - that's where bikes belong when they are going to make a left turn.
NUXI
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
This is probably going to get censored but I'm gonna say it anyway. Enacting a law saying a major artery should stop from 45 MPH when someone walks up to the side of the road is wishful thinking at its worst. I've stood at that exact spot and had CITY OWNED VEHICLES fail to yield. Everything from Parks & Rec to AAPD. The city can't even follow it's own laws when they should be setting the example. Occasionally when I see the AAPD car in the group ignoring the law I think it might stop or atleast pull over one of the other drivers for failure to yield, but I've never seen it happen. If the city wishes that crosswalk to function like they state in the silly law they enacted on a road like Washtenaw Ave then they need to at a minimum install the big Stop For Pedestrians in Crosswalk signs, build an island in that spot where the left turn lane is, REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT to 35 MPH, I could go on. Or they could just man up and admit they need a pedestrian controlled traffic signal on roads like that if they want to put crosswalks in the middle of nowhere. I have no idea why they do not simply chose this solution instead of enacting laws that even their own employees don't follow.
Jim Walker
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
For NUXI: We all earnestly hope the cyclist recovers from her injuries. Your thought to reduce the posted speed limit to 35 mph would make the area more dangerous, not less dangerous. In the absence of nearly 24/7 enforcement which no city can afford, posted limits have virtually no effect on actual traffic speeds. The 85th percentile speeds in that area will be about 45 mph (+/- 1 to 3 mph), regardless of whether posted at 35 or the current 45 mph which has been in place since at least April 1983. Artificially low limits just increase the speed variance, passing, lane changes, tailgating, etc. as most drivers do NOT slow below the speeds they find safe and comfortable, but have to avoid the tiny percentage that comply with artificially low posted limits. It is a bad idea. On the segment of Washtenaw from Brockman to Stadium, the 85th percentile speeds were 47 mph - both before and after the posted limit change from 35 to 45 mph in April 2008. From Hill to Brockman, 85th percentile speeds were 40 mph both before and after the posted limit change from 30 to 40 mph in April 2008. MDOT accident records for Business Loop I-94 from Main St. to US-23 for the 3 years before and after the posted limit changes show that accidents are DOWN. It is a false assumption that lowering the posted speed limits below the 85th percentile speeds will slow the actual traffic speeds or make things safer. It is an equally false assumption that raising the posted speed limits to the 85th percentile speeds will increase actual traffic speeds or make things less safe. The city prefers posted speed limits set arbitrarily low, usually below the 30th percentile speeds of free flowing traffic under good conditions so that 70+% of the drivers under good conditions will be in violation. You may decide WHY the city prefers posted limits that bear little or no relationship to the actual traffic speeds. James C. Walker, National Motorists Association, Ann Arbor, MI
a2citizen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:22 p.m.
Nuxi, yet A2 decided to put a crosswalk there. Do you know if they received permission from the state? From the Michigan Vehicle Code: Sec 609.(b) No local authority shall place or maintain any traffic-control device upon any trunk line highway under the jurisdiction of the state highway commissioner "except by the latter's permission"
P. J. Murphy
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:21 p.m.
I definitely agree with NUXI's main point. Given the volume of traffic, the speed of vehicles, as well as visibility (especially eastbound), this crosswalk was dangerous for both drivers and crosswalk users. When there was no sidewalk on the NE side of Washtenaw this was not such an issue, but now, when there's good reason for peds and bikers to want to cross, they are invited to use a pretty dangerous method. Along with moving the crosswalk, or establishing a highly visible warning system, the State really needs to consider reducing the speed limit to 35 mph. Non vehicle traffic, and turning vehicles are only going to increase on that stretch of road. At many times of the day, nobody goes the speed limit in that stretch due to congestion anyhow.
Ross
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.
Sorry Nuxi, but if you'd fully read previous articles, you'd know that this piece of roadway is BUSINESS US23 and also I-94. Thus the city of Ann Arbor has little authority to regulate the roadway. They cannot just decide to put in an island or curb bump outs. They Definitely cannot change the speed limit. So, we're kind of limited on improvements. It sounds like the location of the crosswalk can be changed, and lights can be put in, so that's a start. Call me crazy, but I still think the solution is to wait for a break in traffic, look both ways, and make sure that you wont get in anyone's way. It's just not that hard. Might you have to wait a while? Sure. So be it.
Anna
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 6:16 p.m.
*applause* for this comment - very well said, NUXI!
seldon
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 5:26 p.m.
Kyle, I appreciate that you've addressed the identification issue in the followup story.
foobar417
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 6:37 p.m.
So, maybe it's the choice of phrasing and maybe it's just me ... but if you've reached out to the family and they have not responded, maybe they just want to be left alone in this sad time?
Kyle Feldscher
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.
No problem, seldon. It's my desire to speak to the woman's family about her and I'm using every avenue available to me to try and reach them.
RunsWithScissors
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:49 p.m.
Thank you, Kyle, for letting us know the status of the bicyclist. Please continue with the updates as they're made available.
MRunner73
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:29 p.m.
I hope she pulls through. Wish the news was better.
aanative
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:16 p.m.
This just in: nothing new to report!
Matt Cooper
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 4:35 a.m.
Not really 73. I've seen and had patients in this condition a lot longer than just 8 days.
MRunner73
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
No, this accident happened on the 13th, that's a long time to remain in critical condition. Sad, indeed.
Rib Queen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.
Those of us who are long time members of the Washtenaw Rec Center at Washtenaw and Platt have seen this spot as a traffic ticket trap 'cookie jar' for Ann Arbor police for years== No care shown toward drivers who are at risk with no left turns permitted in any direction! Police have sat hiding in their vehicles like cockroaches waiting to sight folks==How terrible that it has taken the severe injury of this poor young pedestrian to call attention to this need for signals! May God bless her with recovery AND shame on the city of Ann Arbor.
Matt Cooper
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 4:34 a.m.
Funny, you call the cops 'cockroaches' when the plain and simple truth is that they can set all the "traffic ticket traps" they want, but the only way they can bust you is if you're doing something wrong. If you don't like being ticketed, stop breaking traffic laws. And stop blaming the cops for your wrongdoings.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:04 p.m.
prayers for a positive outcome. I don't have any medical background but anecdotally it sure seems like a long time in critical condition. again prayers for healing.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 10:46 p.m.
Thanks for the feedback Matt I didn't realize it was that common. Since I have no direct experience I just fell back on what i read/see/hear in the media where it seemed like folks were often upgraded fairly quickly. Obviously that is not always the case. I learned something today.
Matt Cooper
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.
Being that I don't get paid to track or collect that kind of information, I can't say what percentage. I have however, worked in the critical care ICU for 11 years, and my anecdotal experience is that I've seen a great many patients stay in critical condition for a lot longer than 8 days. It all depends on the injury or diesease process, the bodies healing properties, the patients overall health prior to getting sick or injured and a great many other factors.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
What percentage of patients who arrive in critical condition remain so after 8 days?
Matt Cooper
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 4:35 a.m.
8 days in critical condition is not much. I've had patients in this condition for much, much longer time periods.