Comments on: Questions in the Deadly University City Crash Involving an SDPD Officer http://www.bikesd.org/2009/11/questions-in-the-deadly-university-city-crash-involving-an-sdpd-officer/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:06:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Thom http://www.bikesd.org/2009/11/questions-in-the-deadly-university-city-crash-involving-an-sdpd-officer/comment-page-1/#comment-465 Thom Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:12:52 +0000 http://www.bikesd.org/?p=726#comment-465 Apparently we're not the only ones who are confused. Two different broadcast news stations reported last night that Freeman's family is criticizing the SDPD for lack of communication in the wake of the crash. While it's understandable that the police would be reluctant to provide much information while the investigation is ongoing, I can't help but wonder if internal investigations like this ever produce satisfactory results for the victims and/or their families. Apparently we’re not the only ones who are confused. Two different broadcast news stations reported last night that Freeman’s family is criticizing the SDPD for lack of communication in the wake of the crash. While it’s understandable that the police would be reluctant to provide much information while the investigation is ongoing, I can’t help but wonder if internal investigations like this ever produce satisfactory results for the victims and/or their families.

]]> By: Paul http://www.bikesd.org/2009/11/questions-in-the-deadly-university-city-crash-involving-an-sdpd-officer/comment-page-1/#comment-459 Paul Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:34:30 +0000 http://www.bikesd.org/?p=726#comment-459 I follow the Dutch law of vehicle & bike accidents: it's always the fault of the driver of the automobile unless they can prove otherwise and very explicitly that it the collision was unavoidable. This guy could have swerved a bit to miss some road debris or who knows? But this is America and the person with the bigger more expensive vehicle is usually cleared of any wrong unless they're intoxicated. A car is a loaded weapon in my opinion and should be treated as such - by both drivers and the law. I follow the Dutch law of vehicle & bike accidents: it’s always the fault of the driver of the automobile unless they can prove otherwise and very explicitly that it the collision was unavoidable. This guy could have swerved a bit to miss some road debris or who knows? But this is America and the person with the bigger more expensive vehicle is usually cleared of any wrong unless they’re intoxicated. A car is a loaded weapon in my opinion and should be treated as such – by both drivers and the law.

]]> By: Larry Hogue http://www.bikesd.org/2009/11/questions-in-the-deadly-university-city-crash-involving-an-sdpd-officer/comment-page-1/#comment-453 Larry Hogue Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:46:43 +0000 http://www.bikesd.org/?p=726#comment-453 There's a lot of confusion over what happened. I walked to the intersection (which is near my house) at about 9:00 a.m. They had removed Mr. Freeman's body by that point, and the police cruiser had been towed away, but the bike was still in the intersection, and a bunch of glass very near the cross-walk on the west side of the intersection. Based on the story in the paper, which was based on the police info, and based on the photo of the police car with the story, and where all the glass was, it seems like the police car was travelling in one of the through lanes, probably the right lane. So if Mr. Freeman "veered" or "turned" suddenly from the bike lane into the through lane, there wouldn't have been a lot of time for the officer to react. Adding to the confusion is that the southbound bike lane crosses over to the left of the right-only turn lane just before the intersection. Plus, someone on the bike coalition discussion board posted an eyewitness account that had an entirely different scenario: Freeman was actually travelling eastbound on Governor, turning left onto northbound Genesee. So that brings up the whole "who had the green light" issue that was thought to be a central issue in the first hours after the event. It just seems there's too little information to even speculate about what happened, and I hope there will be a thorough investigation with all of the witnesses being interviewed. I know there's a lot of cynicism about whether that will really happen. There’s a lot of confusion over what happened. I walked to the intersection (which is near my house) at about 9:00 a.m. They had removed Mr. Freeman’s body by that point, and the police cruiser had been towed away, but the bike was still in the intersection, and a bunch of glass very near the cross-walk on the west side of the intersection.

Based on the story in the paper, which was based on the police info, and based on the photo of the police car with the story, and where all the glass was, it seems like the police car was travelling in one of the through lanes, probably the right lane. So if Mr. Freeman “veered” or “turned” suddenly from the bike lane into the through lane, there wouldn’t have been a lot of time for the officer to react.

Adding to the confusion is that the southbound bike lane crosses over to the left of the right-only turn lane just before the intersection.

Plus, someone on the bike coalition discussion board posted an eyewitness account that had an entirely different scenario: Freeman was actually travelling eastbound on Governor, turning left onto northbound Genesee. So that brings up the whole “who had the green light” issue that was thought to be a central issue in the first hours after the event.

It just seems there’s too little information to even speculate about what happened, and I hope there will be a thorough investigation with all of the witnesses being interviewed. I know there’s a lot of cynicism about whether that will really happen.

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