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Another rider killed on day of Critical Mass
Bicyclists' anguish
Another rider killed on day of Critical Mass, protest over earlier death Matthew Yi and Larry D. Hatfield, Chronicle Staff Writers Friday, April 27, 2004 The first Critical Mass gathering of bicyclists since charges were reduced in the alleged death of a CM biker last November took on added drama today when another biker was struck and killed by a motorist just blocks from the site of a planned memorial and protest. San Francisco police said the female bicyclist was killed as she was weaving through heavy traffic near the corner of Oak and Franklin streets at 9: 15 a.m. Her handlebar snagged a moving pickup, knocking her off her bike into the path of a Sunset Scavenger Co. garbage truck. The accident happened only a couple hours before a noon rally at City Hall at which angry bicyclists protested last week's dismissal by Judge Herb Donaldson of a manslaughter charge in the November biker death. Donaldson also reduced felony assault charges to misdemeanors. San Francisco police were bracing for serious traffic problems since the planned rush hour Critical Mass was to come at the same time people were to begin arriving for a Giants-Cubs game at Pac Bell Park. Today's City Hall rally drew more than 70 bikers wearing black armbands and carrying such signs as "We Ride to Live, Not to Die." It included angry denunciations of the dropping of the voluntary manslaughter charge and the reduction of the assault charges against Reuben Espinosa, 42, of Fremont. The18-wheeler crushed bicyclist Chris Robertson, 30, in what he said to authorities was a "game of chicken" with a group of bicyclists and 18-wheeler. No one was arrested and no citations were issued against either driver involved in this morning's fatal bike accident, said Police Department spokesman Dewayne Tully. "She was cutting in and out of traffic. . . . She was crushed," Tully said of the unidentified bicyclist, who he said was in her 20s. "There is a lot of anger on the part of the bicycle community," Leah Shahum, "but it was her fault" San Francisco Bicycle Coalition program director, said of last week's ruling by Donaldson. Espinosa said he had not seen Robertson as he and other bikers rode in front of the big rig. Witnesses said the cyclists were riding slowly as the truck attempted to pass them. At some point, a wooden block was thrown from the crowd, according to witnesses. That resulted in the assault charges. Defense witnesses testified that Espinosa, who had two passengers, could not see Robertson from the driver's seat. Other witnesses said the truck's brake lights were on as the big rig was surrounded by taunting cyclists. Others at the rally said today's fatal accident would increase participation. Anticipating the increased traffic from the ball game and the bike ride, Officer James McKeever of the police traffic division said, "We'll be expending twice the manpower we normally do." |
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"Mary Horton" wrote:
Bicyclists' anguish Another rider killed on day of Critical Mass, protest over earlier death Matthew Yi and Larry D. Hatfield, Chronicle Staff Writers Friday, April 27, 2004 The first Critical Mass gathering of bicyclists since charges were reduced in the alleged death of a CM biker last November took on added drama today when another biker was struck and killed by a motorist just blocks from the site of a planned memorial and protest. San Francisco police said the female bicyclist was killed as she was weaving through heavy traffic near the corner of Oak and Franklin streets at 9: 15 a.m. Her handlebar snagged a moving pickup, knocking her off her bike into the path of a Sunset Scavenger Co. garbage truck. I'm not seeing anything to "anguish" here.... -- Reply to sans two @@, or your reply won't reach me. Twin City Strategy Gamer: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TC_Strategy/ Drug smugglers and gun-runners are heroes of American capitalism. -- Jeffrey Quick |
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