Car strikes motorcycle; 2 people hospitalized
By Kathryn Reed
Two people were hospitalized Friday after the motorcycle they were on was hit by a car in the middle of South Lake Tahoe.
Shirley Kravan was in the vehicle behind the motorcycle on Highway 50 heading west and saw the whole thing unfold. She told Lake Tahoe News a car came from the right on Lodi Avenue and hit the motorcycle.
The man driving the motorcycle is taken to the ambulance Aug. 24. Photos/Kathryn Reed
“I saw her fly in the air and he was by the bike,” Kravan said of the riders.
She estimated the woman, who was riding in the back, flew 40 to 50 feet. She literally came out of her tennis shoes.
Names of the victims and driver of the car, who was not injured, have not been released.
The motorcycle driver was being taken to Barton Memorial Hospital. He never lost consciousness and was clearly moving his hands when he was loaded into the ambulance abut 12:30pm Aug. 24.
CalStar airlifted the woman, according to police Sgt. Josh Adler, to a Reno hospital.
Packs on the downed motorcycle could indicate they were visitors to Tahoe.
Kravan, who is an emergency room technician, said the female was unconscious at first. She, along with an EMT and first responder, was the first on the scene. She said when paramedics began administering care the female victim became responsive.
Highway 50 was being rerouted headed west at River Drive and was backed up to the Y. Headed east, it was slow at Lodi.
Officers were still on scene collecting information, with the motorcycle on its side and one helmet lying in the middle of the street.
wow Kae you got this up quick.
I was on the hwy behind the accident as well. I was very impressed by the folks that did what they could to help the hurt and also the drivers who slowly moved past the scene prior to emergency response arrival.
Another needless tragedy. It seems that we are experiencing an increase in car vs. bicycle and motorcycle accidents recently. My heart goes out to these folks and to the local bicyclist who was hit and seriously injured by a drunk hit-and-run driver on 89 just days ago. I was hit by an inattentive driver 3 weeks ago while riding in the bike lane (with traffic) on Venice Drive and am now confined to crutches / wheelchair while my broken leg heals. Despite a police report listing an unsafe lane change by the driver, she has not been cited. I have also heard several first hand accounts of near collisions.
If we are ever to become a truly ‘bicycle friendly community’, law enforcement needs to start cracking down on unsafe vehicle operation by both groups: cars/trucks and cyclists (motor and non-motorized). It’s become a free-for-all on many of our residential streets with drivers routinly exceeding the 25 mph limit by 10-15 mph.
Certainly some bicyclists (and motorcyclists too) are their own worst enemy. I see so many bicyclists riding against traffic and have witnessed a collision last summer because of that dangerous, illegal and stupid practice.
The cyclist and her friends proceeded to blame the driver who was simply leaving a driveway and had no reason to expect a wrong way rider. Cyclists with a leashed dog, beverage in one hand or chatting on a cell phone and oblivious to stop signs is a common sight in the vicinity of Lakeview Commons / El Dorado beach. It’s a wonder there have not been more accidents there.
With increases in both gas prices and participation in cycling, I’m afraid this situation will get worse before/ if ever—it gets better. PLEASE — no matter what sort of vehicle you are operating–be more attentive. The life you save (or keep out of prison), may be your own.
I don’t disagree with anything that Tom said, but I will echo something that another poster wrote on this site earlier in the month: if you ride a bicycle at night, please make sure that your bike is equipped with reflectors and a light, and that you wear light colored clothing. I can’t tell you how many near misses that I have had with people darting across the road during darkness, with no lights, no reflectors and no dark clothing. I would feel terrible if I hit anyone, even if it wasn’t my fault. Traffic laws also apply to bicyclists! Please be careful, the life you save may be your own.
Oops – I meant darting across the road with no lights, no reflectors and wearing dark clothing. That will teach me not to check my posts!
Thank you Tom and scadmin. I share your concerns about both cyclists and drivers. I am a cyclist who follows the rules of the road for my own (and everybody’s) safety. I cringe at the frequent dangerous behavior of people on bicycles in this town! Cyclists: PLEASE remember you are sharing the road and the cars you are sharing it with can be deadly to YOU. Please ride with traffic, don’t dart out into it, use proper reflection at night, and wear a helmet for your own protection. Tom, I am sorry to hear of your injury. I wish you a speedy recovery.
Janice,
Thanks for the get well wishes. I have to be patient and let nature do her healing work as well as do my rehab exercises. Thanks also and ditto scadmin.