Bicyclist without helmet, other safety equipment, seriously injured when struck by car
REDDING — Heavy rains and limited visibility are being partially blamed after a vehicle plowed into a bicyclist early Tuesday morning, Nov. 27.
The collision left the bike rider – who had not been wearing a helmet – with major injuries, and happened at the intersection of Hilltop Dr. and Browning St., according to Redding PD.
LEADING THE SCNS HEADLINES:
Bodies of SoCal men recovered after drowning at Eastman Lake near FRM
Probationer arrested after threatening dad with loaded handgun
Woman attacks Redding officers, K-9, & firefighters with rocks over campfire dispute
City of Redding Police and Fire Departments, along with other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the traffic collision shortly after 6:30 a.m., after receiving reports of a bicyclist who had been struck from behind and was seriously injured.
The intersection at Hilltop Dr. and Browning St. was temporarily closed while officials investigated the cause of yesterday morning’s crash. RPD photo
When officials arrived they found a damaged car, described as a black Honda Accord, and a wrecked black mountain bike, Redding Police Officer Mack said after the collision.
The mountain bike rider, identified by Redding PD as 19-year-old, Max Tehrani, of Redding, was found nearby with major traumatic injuries. According to officials investigating the crash, he had wearing all dark clothing, did not have a light on his bike, and was not wearing a helmet when he was struck. He was eventually rushed by ground ambulance to Mercy Hospital with major injures.
“Based on evidence and statements at the scene of the collision, both the bicycle and vehicle were southbound on Hilltop Dr. approaching Browning St. when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle struck the rear of the bicycle, causing the bicycle rider to fall,” explained Mack
The driver of the vehicle, 39-year-old, Janette Brockman, of Redding, remained a the scene of the accident and was cooperating with RPD’s collision investigation. She had been wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash and was uninjured.
While officials worked at the scene, southbound Hilltop Dr. was closed at the intersection of Browning St. and area commuters and motorists were forced to find alternate routes to their morning destinations. The roadway was re-opened several hours later.
Alcohol and/or drug intoxication did not appear to be factors in this collision, but Redding PD’s investigation is ongoing and officers are searching for any potential witnesses to the crash.
Anyone with information about this investigation or who witnessed the collision and has not yet provided a statement is encouraged to contact Redding Police Officer Mack at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 18R084268 and can remain anonymous.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.
Wow that story was the most anti-cyclist I have seen In a while. Sometimes wearing a helmet is not going to help when you get crushed by a car. I ride with lights and still have to avoid motorists who are driving too fast for conditions. All sorts of ways this tragedy could have happened, why so slanted against the cyclist from the gate? And why add that the motorist was wearing a seatbelt and wasn’t hurt? You hit a cyclist with your car, how are you going to be hurt? To make it seem she is safe and he isn’t. If you can’t write something fair, don’t write it.
Hi Rick,
I am very sorry you felt this article was slanted against cyclists.
As an avid, life-long cyclist, I truly enjoy the sport and although I only have one leg now I have a great trike I ride as often as I can. If the article was slanted at all it was slanted toward bike safety, such as wearing a helmet; having all the proper safety and lighting equipment; and wearing bright, reflective clothing if going to be out riding during times of darkness. As for the fact that the driver was wearing her seat belt, that was included in the report because CHP almost always includes that fact (yes or no) in their releases about these tragic accidents.
I truly wish the best for the injured rider and if the driver violated any laws, was being reckless, or was driving while using the phone or otherwise distracted, I hope she is charged.
While safety equipment MAY have helped avoid the crash, to me – just based on what little was provided in CHP’s report – it sounded like the driver was completely at fault. But that is speculation and my opinion, and had no place in this article.
Best wishes Sir, and if you ride, PLEASE be safe and watch out for all the idiotic and distracted drivers who could care less about cyclists and/or pedestrians along the side of the road.
-TM
To me it seems Cops look for ways to make the cyclist at fault. Remember the young girl on a bicycle in Temecula who the cops said “rammed” a tour bus? Wow, a 12 year old terrorist on a Huffy. Truth came out – the bus was going the same way as the bicycle and hit her from behind. If you are a journalist now and not a cop any more, you should resist their efforts to smear cyclists. I worked in news for 20 years but have been cycling twice that. Infrastructure – which cities don’t want to spend money on — and changing bad behavior by motorists — can improve safety. Helmets — in and of themselves — do not. Helpful in some crashes — but studies show over and over again motorists drive way closer to cyclists wearing helmets opposed to those not wearing helmets. You can get more space wearing a blond wig than a helmet. Motorists give the most room to who they perceive as female cyclists who are NOT wearing safety gear. Authorities have created a car centered road structure dangerous for cyclists and instead of fixing it toss us helmets and lecture us when when get run over by cars. Cops are at least complicit in that car culture and often aggressively antI cyclist — try looking at these “accidents” for what they are — assaults by motorists who have a callous disregard for human life.
Pingback: Traffic stop leads to arrest of pair who burglarized Redding school – Riverside County News Source