Teenager rode bike across traffic causing last week's Scio Township crash
The teenager struck by a vehicle while riding his bike in Scio Township last week suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was released from the hospital, officials said Wednesday.
Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Geoffrey Fox said the teenager was alert and conscious after the crash and was released from the hospital shortly after the incident.
Fox said the crash occurred when the vehicle and the teenager on the bike were both westbound on Scio Church Road. The teenager turned left across Scio Church Road to get to Scio Church Court and was struck by the vehicle, Fox said.
Huron Valley Ambulance officials told AnnArbor.com that the teenager was taken to University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in unstable condition after being hit about 5:20 p.m. Aug. 20 on Scio Church Road between Wagner and Zeeb roads.
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
jns131
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 5:21 p.m.
Here in lies the problem. Again bikers who again go again the traffic start an accident and yet the bikers tell the motorists to watch out for them. If we are to watch out for you? Then mind the rules of the road. Holy smokes. This article does not surprise me in the least.
Martha Andrews-Schmidt
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 11:34 a.m.
We drive Scio Church Road between Wagner & Zeeb daily. The speed limit is 55 mph but we encounter vehicles going 70 or more on a regular basis. I personally think anyone biking or jogging along Scio Church is nuts.
Tru2Blu76
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 4:05 p.m.
So Scio Church Rd. is an Irrational Behavior Zone but it's cyclists attempting to use that route who are "nuts???" You'd better let MDOT know about this: that agency is still bent on posting speed limits and police are still bent on trying to enforce them. Just out of curiosity, does our Sec. of State drivers test include your warning in their training manuals? Hadn't seen that myself but might have missed a notice that said: "All cyclists attempting to use roads which are misused by motor vehicle operators are hereby declared insane."
KJMClark
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 11:25 a.m.
Have to agree that that's a biased headline. There's nothing wrong with a cyclist making a left turn. I make three of them every day when I bike to work, including two lane changes from a bike lane to a left turn lane. All completely legal - mirror checks, left turn hand signal, head turn check, lane positioning, the works. If a motorist decided to ignore my signals and hit me (came close in the past few years - one time I did all of that, only to find a motorist was trying to pass me in a no passing zone with my arm straight out to my left for about 20 seconds beforehand), would AA.com decide I had "caused" the crash? The headline probably should have just read that the cyclist was turning left. That's all the story supports. Good to hear the teen will be OK.
Tru2Blu76
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 10:44 a.m.
RE: "Teenager rode bike across traffic causing last week's Scio Township crash." That's an assertion, probably on the part of Mr. Feldscher. His obligation becomes: offering some evidence from the actual accident. Which, presumably, he could get from the police report. Without that supporting information, we are given no rational basis for deciding and -- not our fault - naturally veer off into opposing opinions. We are all capable of making rational, legal decisions when we have the applicable facts in a situation. So what's really missing here are the facts, which we should EXPECT to be provided by the reporter and publication for which he writes. I for one am not going to let myself be drawn into a "debate" on the rightness or wrongness of the cyclist's action - UNTIL I see the facts which should have been provided to us. The time-honored standard for journalists has been:" Provide the public with the who-what-when-where and why." What's needed now is a statement by the publisher on whether this standard is one one their business adheres to. [and some evidence to back up any "yes" claim regarding the enforcement of this policy]
MMM
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 2:25 a.m.
Thank goodness this had a relatively happy ending. I ride my bike on Scio Church and cars drive FAST on that stretch. That spot is particularly bad because of a hill there. All drivers need to be careful of bikers and joggers. I have hit a squirrel with my car and cringed for days. Can't really imagine hitting a human and not having that experience change your life forever.
jns131
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 5:22 p.m.
Apparently the police are letting those who hit a person go scott free. Kind of sad really.
Linda Peck
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 9:09 p.m.
Kyle, I appreciate the follow-up. I am sure happy to hear the young man is doing well.
Greg
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 7:49 p.m.
Just glad it wasn't a rental bike we have to pay for. Just waiting - it is a matter of time as our fearless leaders get us into the bike rental business.
a2roots
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 4:58 p.m.
@foo...no telling from the report what happened but any bicyclist that assumes an arm signal(if used) is going to slow a vehicle going 40mph to yield for a left turning, traffic crossing bike, is making a poor decision. Plus any bike rider on Scio Church that is not absolutely hugging the lane as far right as possible is making a bad decision regardless of any share the road agenda.
a2cents
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 1:56 a.m.
The cyclist who hugs the fog line limits his options considerably on beat up pavement and invites/tempts motorists to crowd past, thereby increasing his risk of accident/injury.
ArthGuinness
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 9:47 p.m.
With the potholes on that road, it would be quite difficult to use an arm signal for any extended period. HOWEVER, if he did hold a left turn signal for an extended period, I'm curious what the laws are - are following vehicles supposed to slow down and stop if needed, just as if any other vehicle had their left turn signal on? Typically bicyclists wait for a break in traffic before positioning themselves to turn left, it would seem unwise to just stick your arm out for a few seconds and then hope for the best. I'm not saying that's what happened here, and I mostly agree with your post. Just wondering about the laws.
Ignatz
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 5:49 p.m.
I've always questioned the decisions of those who chose to bicycle down that road, especially during rush hour.
foobar417
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 4:46 p.m.
The headline implies the teenager was at fault, but the article does not give any details or support that position. Did the teenager dart suddenly into the road without signaling his intent to take the lane or turn? Or did he signal, safely take the lane, and then get run over by a speeding car while he was legally in the westbound lane preparing to make a left turn?
Tru2Blu76
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
foobar417: this is not the day to call on AAdotcom to do responsible (or even rational) reporting. The "We're drivers so we own the World" Troll contingent is out in full force. Beware. :-)
ArthGuinness
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 4 a.m.
If you don't know hand signals for turning, you should NOT be on the road. This is completely regardless of whether you are piloting a motorized or non-motorized vehicle.
a2cents
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 1:52 a.m.
Mike: Yes, i signal every turn and often am asked by motorists "what are you doing"?.
Mike
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 1:39 a.m.
Come on posters, Have any of you used a left turn, right turn, stop, hand signal in the past 40 years? Have any of you asked a teenager how they would signal for a left turn? I know what they are and know how to use them, I am afraid the young people would not even know what you are talking about. Better question, have you seen the bicycle police use hand signals in Ann Arbor?
foobar417
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 1:34 a.m.
Yes.
jcj
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 9:49 p.m.
@foobar IF the headline implied the driver was at fault, but did not give any details or support that position. Would you give the driver the benefit of the doubt? I don't think so!
incubo734
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 5:03 p.m.
"The teenager turned left across Scio Church Road to get to Scio Church Court and was struck by the vehicle" Seems the kind just turned left without signaling and without looking who was coming up behind him