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Young cyclist struck by car
Originally published July 27, 2010 at 12:01 a.m., updated July 27, 2010 at 9:25 a.m.
Law enforcement work the scene of a bicycle accident at 11th and Sacramento streets Monday afternoon.
An 11-year-old boy was hospitalized after he was struck by a car Monday afternoon.
Angel Miguel Portillo, of St. Joseph, was bleeding from the head after the accident, which occurred shortly before 2 p.m.
While the accident was still under investigation, St. Joseph Police Officer Wayne Byrom said at the scene that authorities were unclear how it occurred
According to Mr. Byrom, a white Honda Accord was traveling north on South 11th Street when it collided with the bicyclist. The impact ejected the boy, who was not wearing a helmet, and sent him into the car’s windshield and over the top of the vehicle.
The driver of the car was Matthew Dacon, 28.
The boy suffered moderate to serious injuries, police said at the scene, including a head injury and multiple lacerations to his body.
He was taken by ambulance to Heartland Regional Medical Center and was transferred to Children's Mercy. A spokesman there said he was listed in serious condition.
There have been at least two bicyclists injured in the past month after being involved in an accident with a motor vehicle.
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pops says...
Moms and Dads,
PLEASE teach your children the rules of the road before you let them go out on the streets. I have almost no doubt this boy ran right out in front of the car....totally without looking. I'm basing this on what I see in my neighborhood almost on a daily basis....kids going through intersections without stopping at the stop signs, and never even looking for traffic. I've seen so many near misses I can't count them.
I can't imagine the trauma a parent must feel getting a call like that. I also can't imagine the trauma the driver of the car must feel, knowing they injured a child. Most of all, I can't imagine the trauma a child must feel when they're hit.....
Look, folks, it's not WORTH it!! Teach kids to ride responsibly, in accordance with traffic law, and for Pete' sake....MAKE them wear a helmet!!!
July 27, 2010 at 6:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
liberal_lamont says...
I agree with pops almost entirely. The only thing I wouldadd are the Lance Armstrong wanna-bees.
Look, I got no problem with you guys wanting to live the Tour de France dream, but YOU ARE REQUIRED TO OBEY ALL THE LAWS OF THE ROAD. You don't get to pick and choose, you don't get to run red lights at intersections and you certainly don't get to "wait up" for your other bikers, 4 at a freakin' intersection.
It's a terrible distraction and it makes you look petty when you cry, "we have just as much right to be here as you do." Cars or motorcycles can't pack up in an intersection just letting traffic go around them, neither can you.
July 27, 2010 at 7:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
luvmykids says...
I agree with pops and would like to stress the importance of wearing a helmet on bikes. I see more adults now wearing helmets than children. Please spend the little extra to buy a helmet when you get them a bike. Your children are worth the little bit extra.
July 27, 2010 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
Liberal_lamont,
I'm not a Lance wannabe, but I DO ride my bike a lot. I consider myself to be an expert rider, and I believe in following the rules of the road. Why? Because if I don't, right or wrong, I'm going to come out on the short end!! I'm with you in this....I've watched some of these other folks, both men and women, in their fancy riding gear, and high-dollar bikes, just sailing through stop signs and stop lights....or riding several abreast down a street, clogging traffic. Those people are very dangerous. Yes, I have as much a right to the road as anyone, but with rights come responsibility.
To those bike riders out there that may be reading this....you MUST follow the traffic laws!! Don't assume that just because you're on a bike, you have no requirements to obey the law. Those of you who ignore stop lights/signs, make turns without signalling, dart in and out of traffic, etc....you're giving cycling a bad name and making yourselves look like jerks. Be responsible......
July 27, 2010 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
Cyclists have a right to the road, even in the country....
That said, cyclists should stay to the right, and be as far over as possible. I'd say it's no more dangerous than a motorcycle or scooter on the road....as long as car drivers are paying attention to the road, and not to their stereo, cell phone or reading. YES!! I said READING!! I used to commute to KCI every day, and you'd be surprised at how many people I saw driving and READING books or the newspaper!! If there's danger on the highway, it's from idiots like that!!
I recently rode US169, and there is little or no shoulder. No problem....I have plenty of lights and reflectors on the bike, and I wear light colored clothing. I'm very visible. If a driver doesn't see me it's because they aren't paying attention.
July 27, 2010 at 2:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
Last time I checked, if a driver is watching the road ahead, they'll see the "idiot" in enough time to slow down until it's safe to pass. I'd also submit that unless you're used to hugging the white line to the right of the roadway, you'd have plenty of room to pass the "idiot" anyway.
July 27, 2010 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LogicalThinker says...
People commenting on here need to remember there is a family with a child laying in the hospital. How heartless can you be to lecture them or anyone else. When this happens, all that should be under this article is sympathey. You know nothing of what happened and, therefore, cannot place blame on the child. It is my understanding from reports that the driver was speeding. He isn't in the hospital. Why aren't you griping about him instead of the eleven year old?
July 29, 2010 at 11:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )