On Sunday, October 25, 2015, in the very early afternoon, a cyclist riding from the Crowley Lake area to Mammoth was struck by a vehicle on Crowley Lake Drive.
A Mammoth local was enroute back to Mammoth after a roundtrip bike ride to Crowley Lake. While on Crowley Lake Drive, near the BLM campground, the cyclist was struck by a red compact car. The driver of the vehicle did not stop after hitting the cyclist. Two other cars also passed the collision site and did not stop to ensure the cyclist was alright. The cyclist did sustain minor injuries but was able to complete the ride back into the Mammoth area.
The Mono County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance regarding any information on this hit and run collision. The vehicle is described as a red compact car with a boxy rear end. There will be damage to the right side of the vehicle from the impact of hitting the cyclist. If you have any information on this collision, please contact the Mono County Sheriff’s Office at (760) 932-7549 ext. 7.
The Mono County Sheriff’s Office would also like to remind our traveling public to share the road with our cyclists and obey the Three Feet for Safety law. Please slow down when approaching a cyclist and provide them with at least three feet of distance on the roadway.
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I have no idea what caused this unfortunate incident. I do know that since the evolution of mobile devices there has been a sharp increase in the number of distracted drivers on the road. And cyclists are among the most vulnerable road users when it comes to distracted driving. For everyones sake, please put down the phone and pay attention to what you’re doing when you’re behind the wheel.
Operating a vehicle deserves ALL of your attention. Do it for your own safety, do it for those who are riding with you, and do it for all the others who are sharing the road.
Gary Trotman…..About 20 years ago,up in Oregon,I had a big German Shepard off-leash attack my Cocker-mix on a walk at a place called Detroit Lake….dragging a big chain behind him….owner thought it was O.K. and legal as long as the leash was attached to the dog,whether being held or not by a person……now,when I walk my dogs in camping sites and wilderness areas I carry a wooden walking stick…..with a 6 inch sharpened nail glued into the end of it….would hate to hurt a dog with that,but no more off-leash dog attacks coming at my 2 small pooches because of some idiot that thinks leash-laws don’t apply when your camping or fishing.
I also have to keep a sharp eye when i take my dog out to the canal almost daily for his 30 minutes . I watch for people walking dogs i am not familiar with , So that i will not be forced to pry one off of my dogs neck. I also try to keep my dog in a direct line of sight and pay attn to vehicles as soon as i hear or see them.
I never stand in the middle of a road TEXTING or LISTENING to those little earbud things when i am out walking in a Free Range area where basically anything can happen .
I constantly observe women Walking Strollers with infants , Sometimes with Dual Seating , Sometimes 2 or 3 mothers get together and go out for a stroll . walking down the center of the canal road or a paved road such as Sunland or Schober .
Chatting up a storm or texting furiously , or listening to music with earbuds .
Completely unaware of the 30 ton Semi truck with full hoppers barreling towards them from behind while walking three abreast down the center of sunland with their I DARE YOU ATTITUDE.
I like the old school law of survival , it is called common sense .
As in Europe and elsewhere,the popularity of cycling in America is growing each year. Ever since Detroit put American behind the wheel, the automobile has reigned supreme. Unfortunately, there are some that think nothing of running the “evil menace” (bicycles) off the road as they work through their personal anger issues.
Roadie bicyclists tend to forget that there are many vehicle drivers who are don’t see a bicycle, caused by things like texting, distractions by kids or dogs, drugs, alcohol,etc. There are also many drivers who lack the vision, coordination and mental horsepower to maintain lane control even when not distracted. If it is your misfortune to be pedaling along when one of these drivers comes along, then you get this blinding flash impact from behind. It’s simply not worth it to pedal on the asphalt where there is no bicycle lane. For this reason, I am a mountain biker and pedal where there are no vehicles.
Why didn’t the bicyclist go directly to the Sheriff’s dept sub station? It’s right there by the fire station.
Glad he’s okay, though.
Phone calls, texting, not limited to people driving vehicles…pedestrians are just as guilty, walking along with their heads up their butts, thinking that just because they’re in a crosswalk, that they are safe and in the right. You have to be aware of your surroundings, ALWAYS, whether you’re on a bike, walking down the street, or especially when you’re behind the wheel of a 5,000 lbs. car.
Does seem like a jump in hit-and-run accidents lately….my thinking,either drunk,no insurance,no drivers license….or all 3…and then if the vehicle is too damaged to drive away,they make a run for the nearest telephone to call in that their car was stolen…
Anyone and I mean anyone in California of legal age (of course) can get a driver license, along with voter registration, and a EBT CARD. JUST SAYING.
That may have something to do with crazy drivers. Always be aware of your surroundings helps too.
Recently I wrote a letter to the editor about sharing the road. Obviously I neglected to mention that Los Angeles has a 50 percent hit and run record recently reported by ABC7 morning news. Has their behavior infected our area too? It is bad enough to be walking the dogs down our dirt road without some unthinking person to drive by at a high rate of speed sending up dust clouds. Now I have to be concerned about a hit and run too.
Irritated by Dust Clouds on a dry desert dirt road . Your Funny .
Gary Trotman…..I think what GayeAnn is maybe objecting to is the high-rate of speed and inconsiderate driving some (many) people do on dirt roads,especially the ORV’ers…I myself,when I’m on a dirt road with people and dogs around,as a courtesy,I slow down some and give them room when I drive by.
I gave your reply a thumbs up Low , Because even when i am riding my quad i always slow down when passing people if they are on foot or even parked and sitting in a vehicle , to just gas it past them while kicking up a bit of dust is a little rude i agree .
But then again that’s just me.
Three cars pass this person on the bike and not one stops….makes me think this wasn’t serious at all and that the initial car and driver probably didn’t even realize they hit anyone. Bicyclists are notorious for driving down the middle of the lanes and in tandem blocking traffic which is illegal.
So it was not serious and was maybe even the cyclist’s fault?
The person driving the two ton metal object at 50 mph down the road texting, on the phone or coping a buzz did not realize they hit someone? Examine your own attitude and conscience, and decide what it is you have against people on bikes. And, before you quote the law on cycling, study it first.
Maybe its motorists that speed, swerve, run people down, text, drink, and think they have the only right to the highway that are our problem.
@ESL,
There was no mention of another cyclist riding in tandem with this gentleman. But since you brought up the law…It is illegal to pass a cyclist with less than 3 feet of clearance. And I find it difficult to believe that this driver didn’t realize he made contact with the man.