BikeLite

Tandem touring family of four struck by car on hwy 93 milemarker 7

"While traveling on a tandem bicycle with a trailer behind it, Daniel and Beth Huey and their small children, Faith and Paul, were struck by a car the morning of July 4. Beth and Paul succumbed to their injuries at the scene while Daniel and Faith were transported to hospitals, where they remain as of Wednesday."

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/ne...3deb28bf2.html
https://www.rustonleader.com/news/tr...-ruston-family

njkayaker

No idea if they were northbound or southbound.

Near the Idaho border (northbound).

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9963...=en&authuser=0

JW Fas

The driver can't claim the sun was in his eyes. At that time the sun's angle was about 33 degrees above the horizon and directly east. The road also appears to have a decently wide shoulder.

https://www.sunearthtools.com/dp/tools/pos_sun.php

I'm betting intoxication or a cell phone was involved.

HelpSingularity 

That is just so sad.

Daniel4

Unless the driver was under DUI, or had his licence suspended, I doubt he'll face any serious charges or penalties above a fine.

The article(s) state that it was an accident, which does not exist and treat the family's death as a matter-of-factly disregarding that bad driving should be taken seriously instead of just a part of being on the road.

GamblerGORD53

Oh no. RIP.
I think they were headed south, but doesn't matter, BOTH sides had a total crap soft pavement with some kind of gouge in the middle and rumble by the line.
Even worse, at 7 miles north of the border there is a passing lane going south. The kids would of had a very rough ride in a 2 wheel trailer.
Google screen shows it was 2021.

indyfabz

Do the articles rule out things like unforeseen mechanical failure causing the driver to lose control?

You know what I am getting at. But will you accept the fact that not all collisions are the result of bad driving?

BikeLite

This article states northbound travel at mile marker 7...single lane, rumble strip, then gravel. Correct if wrong.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/vi...pot/ar-AAZhjbQ

BikeLite

In looking at that pic again, on the other side of the rumble strip including black strip is probably solid and then gravel to the right of the black strip..guessing.

UniChris

That rumble strip is stupid.

What does it prevent, someone running off into the prarie?

And an idiot running off the road into precisly nothing is a public safety problem, exactly how?

Near me, we have some centerline rumble strips, in theory a great idea - but wow is it loud when drivers put a wheel on that to give a little more room when passing, and I could easily see them discouraged from ever doing so again.

Unless a rumble strip is shielding a usefully wide smooth shoulder, I don't like it.

rydabent

That driver shouldnt see the light of day for about 50 years. There is no excuse for this.

Daniel4

Very, very, very few collisions are caused by such things. And when we hear about truck tires flying, we know it's also the result of the owner's negligence for taking care of his vehicle.

njkayaker

You should provide the link to the google streetview (you have it).

Here's the link:

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0968...7i16384!8i8192

The Idaho police where involved. So, it must have been in Idaho.

njkayaker

It's "wide" but it looks pretty miserable for riding.

njkayaker

"If you hear hoofbeats think horses not zebras."

It's a place with very little traffic where people will tend to be speeding. A slow-moving tandem is going to be completely unexpected. Given the apparent quality of the shoulder, they were probably in the lane (maybe, at the right of if).

It's recent. There would have not been enough time to investigate to be able to "rule out unforeseen mechanical failure" or even report about it.

njkayaker

You have a lot of confidence that running off the road would be a minor thing. The road is elevated from the prairie you think is inconsequential.

njkayaker

The shoulder looks miserable to me. I wouldn't expect such a road with little traffic to have good shoulders.

noimagination

Here we go again...

Webster's Dictionary:

accident

noun
ac·​ci·​dent | \ ˈak-sə-dənt , -ˌdent , ˈaks-dənt \

Definition of accident

1a: an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance Their meeting was an accident.
b: lack of intention or necessity : CHANCE They met by accident rather than by design.
2a: an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance was involved in a traffic accident

etc.

rydabent

A collision between a car and a bike is never an accident. Some one did something wrong.

tomato coupe

Nonsense. I've witnessed bike-car collisions that were the fault of the driver, bike-car collisions that were the fault of the cyclist, and bike-car collisions where no one was at fault.

noimagination

BS. Complete and utter BS.
Reading comprehension is your friend. Try reading the definition of "accident" again. Here: I'll help you. "an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance". So, the possibility of error is encompassed within the definition, which invalidates your statement. Just because someone is at fault doesn't mean it is not an accident.

Not only that, but a little thought will show that your statement is nonsense. Here's just a couple of thoughts:
1. A rider and a car approach an intersection at right angles to each other. The traffic signal is malfunctioning, giving a green light to both. A collision ensues. Who did something wrong?
2. A rider is on the shoulder, a car is about to pass them. A deer jumps out into the path of the rider, causing the rider to swerve into the path of the car, and the car hits him. Who did something wrong?

Your statement displays sheer ignorance.

GhostRider62

Controlling a tandem towing a two wheeled trailer with the kind of nasty, deep rumble strip grooves that they inflict on us out West would be more than a handful but I don't feel like explaining the physics today or arguing about a tragic event. But I hate the way rumble strips are done out there. I suspect the real villain isn't the driver but it is more likely than not.

timdow

Has it been mentioned that, as the shoulder is a poor place to cycle, a possibility is that they were riding in the road on the other side of the rumble strip? This could be the case if traffic were light. I have done this (not towing a trailer though). if so, it still does not take responsibility away from the car driver. He is still at-fault, as a bicycle is a vehicle, and can use the lane.

njkayaker

You didn't read the thread but are asking a question that might be in the thread you didn't read. Hmm.

timdow

Yes, my bad. I actually read the thread, but missed that part of your post.