This really pisses me off- another cyclist killed

jorgemonkey · 08-14-2006

From the SJ merc-

Santa Cruz bicyclist dies after head-on collision
Bay City News Service

A 49-year-old Santa Cruz bicyclist who collided head-on with a 2001 Ford truck on a Felton road Friday succumbed to his injuries at a Bay Area hospital that same evening, California Highway Patrol Officer Grant Boles said today.

Robert Edward Hebeler suffered major head injuries when around 10:10 a.m. he drifted across the double yellow dividers on southbound Felton Empire Road and crashed into the Ford, driven by a 24-year-old Royal Oaks man in the northbound lane, Boles said.

Hebeler was traveling between 30 and 40 mph through a downhill corner when he slammed into the driver's side of the truck. The impact sent him flying off the bicycle, causing major head trauma, although he was wearing a helmet, Boles said.

The driver, who was uninjured, will not be charged, he said, noting that Hebeler was at fault for traveling in the wrong direction through the curve.

Hebeler was airlifted to a Bay Area hospital where he died later that day.

***bustamove*** · 08-14-2006

Bob Hebeler was a VP at eBay. Click here.

Speedub.Nate · 08-14-2006

I certainly feel for the guy, but which part about the story pisses you off? That he drifted out of his lane?

BTW, the cyclist was an eBay exec and pretty well known. I'm surprised this story didn't make bigger waves.

jorgemonkey · 08-14-2006

Oops, I should have re-read the story before I posted. I thought the driver was the one who drifted out of his lane

I feel bad for both the family of Bob as well as the driver who had to go through all that.

jms · 08-14-2006

Before this turns into another "Motorists hate cyclist" thread, here's some more information that may not have been in the SJ Merc.
Felton Empire is a tough descent. The cyclist early apexed the corner, ran wide exiting the corner into the middle of the oncoming traffic lane. Unfortunately, there was an F450 truck heading uphill at that instant. Total rider error and bad timing. Sad for the cyclist and the truck driver too.
I was coming up the hill as the scene was being cleared, the rider was life-flighted out across from my driveway as I arrived home [I watched the Helo leave]. I dropped down Felton Empire past the the accident scene on a road ride the next day - the accident investigator had marked the rider's line into the trucks path - anybody could make that mistake in that corner. The road is uneven entering that corner, and you're forced to either side of the lane. He chose inside on the entry, which forced him outside on the exit. Sigh, and that was the wrong time for that choice.
If there is anything to be angry about, it's the condition of most of the roads in Santa Cruz County. The roads @ here are the worst I've ever experienced in California. If you can ride here, everything else is cake. Felton Empire, Jamison, Zayante, Moutain Charlie, China Grade, etc., [Christ, pick your favorite] are just brutal to descend. I'm suprised there aren't more fatalities.
Bon Chance to all who ride these roads - it's not supposed to be a life threatening experience. And say a prayer, or think a good thought for a kindred spirit lost.

Berkeley Mike · 08-14-2006

Of the 4 road cycling deaths I've heard about this summer 2 were due to cyclist error putting them into oncoming traffic. Glaring cyclist error. Can you imagine what went through their minds as they were being killed.
As for the other two who were taken out in their own lanes I haven't a f**king clue. Friends and I harangued the Oakland PD for more patrols. I'm not holding my breath.
Be as safe as you can. Be smart. At the very least.

Rumpfy · 08-14-2006

Gives me a heavy sad feeling in my chest every time I read something like this.

Regardless of whos at fault, it reminds me why I don't road bike.

chucko58 · 08-15-2006

It's a tragedy no matter who was at fault.

budgie · 08-15-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by scmex7

All you road bikers are crazy a-holes.

Statements like this are why the "Edit" feature on this site was introduced. Look into it.

ibisGuy · 08-15-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by scmex7

All you road bikers are crazy a-holes.

Ok I have been called crazy before, many times actually. I do have a problem being called an a-hole though,

no need for that nastyness.

morganfletcher · 08-15-2006

I've been riding a road bike for (counts in his head...) 25 years. I've been hit by a car twice, once it was partly my fault. That's in thousands of miles of riding. I've also taken myself out many times, and had other riders do that for me as well. I commute on public roads nearly every day, have been since I was an adult. Yes, a car can take you out at any time, but I honestly believe it's about as true whether you're on a bike or in a car.

Ride safe, OBEY TRAFFIC LAWS, learn how to handle a bike on the roads and around cars and you should be fine.

I do take this stuff very seriously. One of the riders mentioned above was a father of a friend of mine, also a cyclist. I am a father, and I think about this stuff as much as I can bear to think about it.

Not the panicky type,

Morgan

BigLarry · 08-15-2006

I did road bike for a couple decades and loved the speed and distances.

But I got hit by cars many times. Got run off the road plenty. Got run into parked cars a couple times. Got doors opened on me. Broke many wheels on pot holes... Mostly, you don't know when that drunk or inattentive driver will plow you over, or you might make a mistake of your own that's your last.

Doing MTB was so much more FUN! MTB takes you into deep country away from all the city mess. You get dirty and muddy like a little kid. Maybe you get road rash or break a bone or some teeth if you make a mistake, but you don't get your head smashed in. Helmets only help in lesser impacts. In a major collision, your whole body and head is squashed.

Oddly, I ride an hour of MTB, before then driving to work. Things like this remind me that maybe it's not such a bad choice.

jorgemonkey · 08-15-2006

I'm lucky in a sense that I have to commute on my bike to work, but I'm either on backroads or a bike path, so its pretty safe. Then again, in my 3.6 mile commute, I have almost been hit 3 times so far. I ride my bike on the road with the mentality that no cars see me, and that other drivers will do the dumbest things possible right in front of me.

morganfletcher · 08-15-2006

http://kellybike.com/2nd_rr_heresmything.html