Nelda Oh My G Me: That SU\V just hit him, poor guy.
@Hatley (163781)
Garden Grove, California
October 29, 2010 8:52pm CST
My friend Nelda was taking me To stater Brothers to buy a few items. It was just getting dark.This woman driving a huge SuV made a turn, I think illegaaly, right in front of us and bam she hit this young man on a bicyle. He went down of course, I mean that was one of the super big SUVs.He did get up and limped onto the sidewalk.For amoment It seemede
like every one had stopped, of course they had not but this was right '
in the intersection. The young man gained the sidewalk then just sank
down, sitting on edge of the sidewalk legs all askew. I think both Nelda and I were shaken up just seeing this happen. The young man was hit hard enough so he was up in the air for a few seconds before his feet seemed to hit the ground.When we drove around the stalled SUV here came the Paramedics with lights flashing. When we started back we had to slow as there were Paramedics, a large truck whose driver had been the one to help the young man and several police cars. It happened so fast as we had stopped for the traffic light. but it came in my mind she did not have her lights on , and also I think she made that turn too soon. Also the boy did not have any lights on his bike. Both of us agreed the driverWh and the boy on the bike were equally to blame. My question is how many of us mylotters are careful about putting on your lights when it just starts to get really dark? I have seen drivers wait awhile and I have also seen people on bikes without lights on and its starting to get dark already.What are your views on this? It was not pitch dark but dark enough the stores were all lit up. I think both drivers and biyclists should both be careful to have lights on at dusk, and that nobody should ride a bike without lights, thats just asking for trouble. your views plese. I am still a little shaken as I was afraid he was going to be killed for a few seconds.
12 people like this
26 responses
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
30 Oct 10
Poor guy. That's actually the main reason why I don't buy a motorcyle no matter how cool I would look in one 
. That's because when accidents happen no matter how right you are, if another vehicle, let's say a car or worse an SUV hits you, it's almost certain that you'll end up flying in the air. That guys is lucky he live in the US where the paramedics is sure to arrive in just a few minutes. It's a total different story. Good thing you and your friend are safe. Take care always!
. That's because when accidents happen no matter how right you are, if another vehicle, let's say a car or worse an SUV hits you, it's almost certain that you'll end up flying in the air. That guys is lucky he live in the US where the paramedics is sure to arrive in just a few minutes. It's a total different story. Good thing you and your friend are safe. Take care always!2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi ybong yes I am happy we do h ave really good emergency service here in the US. Yes motorcyles are cool looking but one has to be careful at all
times.So its a bit different where you are in regard to the para medics.'
A few years ago I had a bad fall and embarrassingly it was beside my
favorite restaurant. I tried to get up but my left arm would not work. it just dangled. I knew then I was in serious =trouble a lot of people gathered round but only one couple helped. He called the paramedics on his cell phone, they were there in five minutes. so we do have really great service here Yes we were safe enough our selves and we are both pretty careful too. I keep thinking wow supposing we had been across that intersection when she turned and she had plowed into Nelda's small red
car. So I guess God was really looking out for us that time.wow.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi ybon007 That poor ambulance system in the Philippines is something your new President should really work on. I was always a bit put out a few years back when ambulances always got the motorists to pullover so they could pass. b ut when I had that awful fall and bractured my ahoulder was I ever grateeful for their speed in getting there and their expertise in loading me into the ambulance. I am not a small person to start with a nd as I could not help them at all. I could not even stand up or crawl onto the gurney as I no longer had the use at all of my left arm. also I was in shock and could harldly remember my name. I was wearing a medic alert necklace which told them I was 82 and this also gave my doctor's mane and phone number also the information about my medicines and what health problems I had. I need to renew that medic alert as it is good to have it in case of an emergency. Not that I want to ever have one again but one has no control over what could happen in the year ahead. o
2 people like this
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
30 Oct 10
The paramedics in the US is something that you can be proud of. 911 is such a famous number that when you mention it, every one knows what it is. There was a time when rescue 911 was such a big TV series here in the Philippines. We have our own version of the 911 and that's 147 but the people running it were forced to charge people calling it since most of the calls they receive are prank calls 
. What's suppose to be a great service copied from the blueprints that made what 911 is today has become a joke. So what's happening now is "to each his own", if you met an accident pray that there are good samaritans who have saved a number of the nearest hospital otherwise you have to muster all strength to remain conscious or carry your self on your own to the hospital since ambulance would take forever to arrive and if there's any at all.
. What's suppose to be a great service copied from the blueprints that made what 911 is today has become a joke. So what's happening now is "to each his own", if you met an accident pray that there are good samaritans who have saved a number of the nearest hospital otherwise you have to muster all strength to remain conscious or carry your self on your own to the hospital since ambulance would take forever to arrive and if there's any at all.2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
30 Oct 10
Seeing something like that is scary and will shake you up
I get angry with Drivers who leave it to the last Minute to put their Lights on, my Lights go on even when it is raining as it is dark then and I have a dark Car so at least I know People can see my Car coming
I hope that the Boy will be ok and I really hope that you have had a lie Down and got over the Shock big Hugs and love you
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi gabs yes it shakes one up. hen I was thinking in the middle of the nioght why was he where he was, he was walking his bike.. then I knew what was wrong, she jumped the turn signal and he still had the green
light to walk across with his bike, He did not have anyligts on his dark bike and no helmut. but too she had not turned on her headlights so she must not have seen him at all. now it all made sense to me.Why on earth she did not turn on her lights. it was dusk and there was a california mist in the air. We had just been talking about how hard it was to see as we had been trying to find Stater Brothers store.And the signs were hard to read in that shimnmery dusky light lpve upi too.hugs for you and huggs for Gissi too.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
30 Oct 10
How frightening.
If she were turning and he didn't have a stop sign/light, then he had right away, lights or no lights.
Sometimes bikes have very direct lights in front and if you aren't pretty close to being in front of the bike you can't see them, like LED lights.
There's this age old problem of people looking for cars and not seeing anything besides what they are looking for, and hit motorcycles, bicyclists or even pedestrians.
I'm going to guess that she will be found to be in the wrong if he didn't run a stop sign or light.
2 people like this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
30 Oct 10
Sorry that you guys were so shaken by this incident that you witnessed. Did you stop and talk to the police as witnesses?
It's one of those things where you wonder why the person didn't realize their lights were not on? I like the cars w/ the auto on & off feature, however my current vehicle does not have that feature but hubby's does. I do think it's in ones best interest when riding a bike or any vehicle that you are exposed on to have proper safety equipment. I was impressed the other day when I saw 2 mopeds at a busy intersection and the one driver had a reflective vest on beside the headlight. You know that vest really caught my eye, much more than just the light on the moped.
We had an incident over summer where some teens were on bikes in the dark and attempting to ride an unlit bike path home, but to get to the bike path they had to cross a nearby highway and a squad car hit one of the boys. Poor kid! But honestly, if I was that kids parent and I knew he was out late past dark that I'd of picked him up from the skating rink instead of letting him ride his bike home. But on the other hand that's why I don't walk by my house much as there are no side walks and alot of traffic
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi 3Snuggle Bunnies NO we were in the inner most lane and the traffic was just jammed. A man driving a large truck had pulled over when the accident happned and appeared to be helping the young man., He was on a walkie talkie and when we were past the SUV we saw an approaching pargamedic's ambulance with siren and flashing lights. we came back maybe ten minutes later and teh amblance and police and the t rucker were still there. I am just sure she did not have her headlights on.
My son wears one of those vests with the reflective stripes on it and it really shows up in the dark,really better than headlights evern.
When we used to live in
hi 3SnuggleBunnies oh yes we were scared and if we had been five mninuites earlier she would have plowed into our little red car.
There was no way we could stop as witnesses as we were hemmed in and
the traffice was just awful. so we pulled aroung her hugeSuv that was blocking two lane of traffic as my friend is not even suppoosed to be driving after dark.A huge truck had pulled out and the driver who saw the whole hing was helping the young man apparentlyt. H e made a phone call on his cell phone and a few moments latter a paramedics van went whizzing past us, when we got back ten minutes later the paramedis were there as well as the police and the truck driver.
Those vests really do work as my son wears one when he biies at might as well as has lights on his bike.I just hope that both of them learned some safety lessons from that.
r
2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
30 Oct 10
That would have been an awful thing to see! I agree that people on bikes should definitely have lights on their bikes because they can be difficult to see at the best of times let alone when it’s getting dark! The same applies for cars; I used to wait a while before putting my lights on in the evenings but I have learned that they should go on as soon as possible after the sun goes down...Better to be safe than sorry...So relieved the young guy was not killed!
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi Paula we were really shocked and if we had been five minutes earlier we would have been hit by ther huge SUV so am glad we were not in that spot. I just did not see any headlights on her van at all. Also the bike did not have any lights on it;He was bare headed too. No helmet at all. I think from where we saw her hit the boy he must have been attempting to cross on the green light so if that was true she should not have turned yet. She ran a read light in other words. I was amazed at how fast everything happemed
h
h3 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 Oct 10
I can imagine how shaken you both must have been - it would have shaken me too. For the past few years I have my lights on during the day and night as it does attract the intention of vehicles coming in the other direction. So I do this as a safety feature. Lights are a necessity and is the law. I do hope that you both feel better soon and I hope that the young man will be all right. Blessings
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi cynthiann yes it was really awful to see that, and I had a flash of what if we had been earlier and in the second lane, she could have plowed into our little red car. wow. We were lucky , but the poor
young man sure was not.I do so hope the boy was not too badly'inured and that he will get lights put on his bicycle so he will be much safer and get a bike helmet too. 
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
11 Nov 10
We have strict rules here that headlights should be on as soon as the streetlights come on. This goes for all traffic on the road be it a push bike or a truck. Cyclists must also wear approved helmets.
Dusk is a very bad time for driving. I hate to say it but I have seen too often that some women are not good drivers when behind the wheel of some of those big vehicles. A woman driving one of those ran into the back of my sedan and she was on her way to a function...wearing stilettos! No wonder she had trouble stopping.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Dec 10
hi msticle i just remembered no wonder Nelda was so shook up. 'two years ago the same thing happened to her but the SUv hit her broadside, demolished her little car, and really shook her up with back spasms and
all. I was not with her but her son phoned me and told me about her accident.The man driving the SUV was intoxicated and did not know what the'hell he was doing, He could not even walk straight and of cou se he had no insurance at all. If someone is going to drive those huge cars they really should know how to drive properly and not drink. lol
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
30 Oct 10
If you asked me about lights for bikes over 20 years ago, I'd say no,that's not cool... but since then I have not only grown up, but as a driver myself, can see the dangers of a bicyclist being without lights. As a driver, I do turn my lights on when the sun is low enough that it isn't bright, (I guess that is dusk isn't it..lol) And I am very careful, because not just bicycles, but motorcycles as well. I learned this from my husband who in our early days of me driving him, he would constantly tell me to watch out, because most motorcycle accidents happen because people don't pay attention.
So occasionally when I do see a motorcycle, I can see how if a person driving a car can miss them. So I am glad that I have that habit of being very careful, especially if the weather is nice.
Then about a week ago, my cousin calls me because he has been home from work since Sept. Why??? Because he was on his motorcycle and this lady literary ran over him. Hurt both his legs and his one leg he has had 2 surgeries putting in plates and screws..
So, whether a bike or motor bike, when someone is driving a car, they need to be as careful as if that person is a pedestrian, for they don't have seat belts or protection and the damage can be fatal..
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
30 Oct 10
Oh Hatley, that must have been horrifying to witness, and then thinking that this kid would be killed, and I'd be all shook up too.
Both people should have had lights on because this is what happens if you don't, and the accident might have been avoided altogether. I hope the young man is ok and nothing serious is wrong with him.
I put my lights on at dusk just before it's dark. If it's raining here, even if it's during the day, you will get a ticket if your lights are not on.
Glad to hear you and your friend are safe and sound...
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
Hi Kashmeresmycat. Yes it really shook us up because we were stopped for pedistrians crossing. I now remember that he was walking his bike and he had the green light so why did she hit him as she would have to have ran a red light? I think they will both be found guilty of negligence on both their parts. It was dusk and too there was a mist not quite foggy but enough to make visibility not so good. I could see they neither one had lights on their vehicles. why some bike riders do not use lights and a shiny vest to make themselves seen at night is beyond me.I hope the boy is not seriously hurt. I also hope both of them learn something from this accident.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi dawn yes it was, I kept thinking about it and something did not
'compute as he was walking his bike.well we were s topped to let pedistrians across so he also had the walk light a nd it was sill green when she hit him, so she turned before the turn light came on. since she did not have her headlights on and he had no lights on his bike I bet she did not see him til it was too late., the sound was horrible and we sat there stunned for a moment then Nelda saie I am going t o get around her SUV so we managed to get past and a block up here c ane a speeding ambulance with lights ans sirens. when we came back a few minutes later the ambulance was still there plus police car abd the big t ruck whose driver had sought to help the boy. I do hope he was not too badly hurt.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
30 Oct 10
what an awful thing to see. i know that so many people dont use their lights when they should and the bicyclest should have at least had a bunch of neon stickers on the bike. if not a light. when we was in vegas once, 3am, there was not much traffic on the strip at that time of morning and this one gal was barreling, speeding down the street passed us. a guy stepped out from between parked cars and he was all in dark clothes
and she hit him. 
terrible thing to see as he wasnt getting up only laying there,rolling around. we pulled over to call 911 and when they came, the woman was a mess. crying and falling to peices and the paramedics took the guy, but i heard one say he was pretty drunk so probably not feeling lots of pain....uuggghh. we were witnesses so we gave statments but i think it was both their faults. she was speeding, he walked out behind some cars in dark clothes, not looking cause he was drunk. i often wondered if he made it. @Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi bunnybon yes it was really scaryh and stuck with me.I realized in the middle of the night what had been bothering me, the boy was walking his bike and we were stopped for letting pedesgtrians across. now I knew it, he was walking his bike on the pedistrian green lithgt. she came barreling around on the turn but she jumped the turn light . bec auses he had no headlights on, and he had no lights on and his clothes were
dark, she did not see him.So she ran a red ligh too. I imagine both]
will get some heavy fines as its illegal here to drive at dusk without headlight and to ride a bike without lights and helmut. so hope boy have learned some valuable lessons from this ,I do hope he is not too badly hurt.
and to ride a bike without lights and helmut. so hope boy have learned some valuable lessons from this ,I do hope he is not too badly hurt.
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
30 Oct 10
This was pretty scary! I don't blame you for being all shook up about it. I probably would be, too. I agree with you. I think both drivers and bicyclists should have their lights on. I just hope the guy wasn't hurt too seriously and I hope he's going to be okay.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi cyrus yes it really was. She really hit him hard. I just hope
he is not too badly hurt.As near as I cou ld tell he was only about17 or 18 at the most, no helmet and no lights on his bike.Maybe both of
them will learn something from this mishap.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi cryus oh yes I remember you at the therapeutic riding center. I had at that time found a video about on of those and had asked you I think if that was your riding center. of course you would need helmets too.
I am so glad my son learned not to ride his bicycle without a helmet on
his head. He had had a fall while riding without a helmet, and was sick and dizzy for several days from it.
I still think of that poor kid thrown up in the air and tossed to the ground like that, I am sure he was injured, how badly I do not know.And of course it might or might not be newsworthy enough to get into thursdays paper.
2 people like this
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
30 Oct 10
He sure needed a helmet all right. I see bicyclists wearing helmets all the time around here because I know it's the law. As I'm sure you already know, I ride horseback and I wear a helmet for that even. I had a pretty bad head injury in 1979 when my horse stumbled and fell with me and I fell off. I think I might have had a mild concussion because I had dizzy spells for a long time after that. I also had a pretty bad cut on my head that required stitiches. I was just lucky it wasn't worse. Anyway, I've been wearing a helmet every since whenever I ride. Those of us who ride at the therapeutic riding center where I volunteer are required to wear helmets, too.
1 person likes this
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
30 Oct 10
That's awful. I put my headlights on when i'm not comfortable seeing the road anymore. I'm just a beginner so expect sometime before 6pm my headlights are already on. I don't wanna experience something like that.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi frontvisions101 Yes it was so scary as she hit him so hard, and just seeing it happen right there. I did feel for both driver and the boy on the bicycle.It was an odd time of dad as it was not pitch black but there was a slight mist in the air that seemed to make it harder to see
well. I hope you too do not ever experience that.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
30 Oct 10
Oh wow how devastating to have witnessed this. I hope the person on the bike will be okay as well as you and all others who witnessed as I am sure you are all shaken up by this so many blessings to all.
But I agree with the above poster, although I have been driving for a very long time I too put my lights and am very cautious, at least I try to be as being in such a hurry causes too much damage.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi hardworkinggurl it was really scary as I was afraid for him, she really hit him so hard. I guess it could have been worse but I really do not think she saw him. And I did not see any lights on the bike either, 'and really here in California I think its illegal not to have lights on a bike for night time and perhaps light colored shirt with those neon stripes that glow in the dark.
2 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
30 Oct 10
Hi Hatley,
I do put on my lights as soon as it starts to get dark. I am so afraid of hurting a pedestrian or a person on a bike. Living in a college neighborhood there are a lot of both here. I don't think they realize just how hard it can be to see them and especially if they are dressed in dark clothes. In our town, it is illegal to ride your bike without lights and reflectors. Still, I don't think they really do much to enforce it. I also see bikes riding the wrong way in traffic and same with the walkers. The road I live on is very narrow and not well lit at night. Many nights when I would drive home there would be this handicapped man walking. So many nights I did not see him till I was right upon him. Its a scary feeling. One night, I finally stopped and talked to him and told him that he was very difficult to see all dressed in dark colors. He went out and got some bright yellow reflector tape to put on his jacket. Everyone should take every precaution for their own safety.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
31 Oct 10
I don't have a choice, my lights are on all the time. I was always good about turning them on at dusk or earlier when I had an older car that let me make choices.
Now that I'm back in the Midwest where so many people have older cars, I've noticed that they aren't very vigilant about using their lights when it is getting dark or a storm makes the day dim. Bicyclists are pretty good about being visible if they are adult. However, younger people don't seem to care if they are visible or not and that can be very dangerous.
1 person likes this
@jdyrj777 (6530)
• United States
2 Nov 10
I hear this happening in the news all the time. Many times the victim will die too. Sometimes the driver a hit and run. As if they hit a stray animal. Its really rude to hit a animal and drive away but a person??? Not even to stop and see if they are still alive??? Where is the humanity???
Both bike riders and pedestrians need to be sure they take all precautions to be visible. Auto drivers need to be way more alert too. They act as if since cars were invented nobody walks anymore. WE DO!!! Ive been crossing the street with light in my favor and had drivers yelling to get out of the road. If it wasnt for me pressing the button to walk they wouldnt have even had the light to turn.
One year it snowed so bad. The roads were plowed covering up all sidewalks. Not that they cared. We had huge snowdrifts on both sides of the roads. Pedestrians had to walk on the side of the road. Drivers were cursing them out the windows. It was crazy.
Im scared to cross busy roads. If the light changes while you are in the middle of the road cars go anyway. You have to wait for light to change to finish crossing. Praying you dont get hit meanwhile. Its very scary.
1 person likes this
@gdesjardin (1918)
• United States
31 Oct 10
OMG Hatley! I have never witnessed someone hitting a biker before or a pedestrian before. You must have been so shaken up. My husband did witness our neighbor who was racking leaves get hit by a driver. I know it took my husband a long time to get over it as our neighbor was really hurt bad and was in the hospital for weeks.
I think drivers don't seem to realize they are operating a moving vehicle and for the time they are in the car driving it is like a full time job....and it is a huge responsibility. My middle son just turned 15 on Monday and just got his learners permit. I had him driving and I started to talk to him alot and had his sister in the back sit trying to distract him. Note: We were in a parking lot with NO cars. But I wanted him to be aware when you have kids yelling in the backseat (like I often had) and the radio blaring you can't hear traffic and other drivers etc. He realized how hard it can be and he actually apologized for all the times him and his sister would fight in the backseat and distract me when I was trying to concentrate on the road.
1 person likes this
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Oct 10
Sorry to hear this. Situation in my place is worst, very few obey traffic rules or honor traffic light signals, all seem to be in great hurry, you can see sign boards that say,'the minute you save by speeding may be your last',
Many don't use dippers while driving at night, and some vehicle comes from front..
You know about my accident that crushed my hip-bone..
Since that day i feel scared, though it was not my fault..
Thank you so much.
Professor. . Cheers God bless you.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 10
hi profeesor We were really shaken though we were not at all involved
but we saw it happem. I am glad she was not speeding but turning it or
she could have killed the poor kid. He had no helmet on and no lights on his bike, but too she did not have on headlight. Also I think from the spot where she happened he was actually walking his bike in the pedestrian lane and she turned too soon, so she actually ran a red
light. I do hope he was not too badly hurt as they did take him a way in an ambulance.Also I hope both people have learned to obey saftety rules.
1 person likes this
@yspmyl (3435)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 10
That was something scary, to witness an accident, but it is still not too bad since the young man were not badly injured. I think many do not realize that when the surrounding started to turn dark, although they still can see others, but those who are driving may not able to see clearly anything in front of them unless they get very close to the subject or people.
When I am driving, I will make sure myself on the light when the sky are turning dark. I do encounter a motorbike driver who wore a black shirt without any light being turn on on his bike, he is lucky that I able to see him when there was street light, or else I might hit him hard from the back with my car.
