2012 Cyclist fatalities

[hannos]

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hitandrun-cla ... 1pj5w.html

A cyclist has died after a hit-and-run accident in northern NSW.

A surf lifesaver stopped to help the man, aged in his 30s, who had been hit by a vehicle in Mullumbimby about 10am and suffered serious head injuries today.

The cyclist was taken to Mullumbimby Hospital where he died.
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Police are trying to find the driver of the vehicle and a report was being prepared for the coroner.

The death takes the NSW road toll to 19 since December 23.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hitandrun-cla ... z1iMUFIwkk

[Mulger bill]

Please use this thread to report the sad loss of all our sisters and brothers of the velocipede.
I must ask that this sensitive topic be treated with the respect is deserves.

It is my profound hope that this is the quietest thread for the year.

Shaun

[Schmenz]

i am disappointed that this thread was made so soon RIP

[KonaCommuter]

It is my profound hope that this is the quietest thread for the year.

+1

[CommuRider]

Not enough to hit him but ran away too. This is murder by any other definition and a cowardly act. Good on the lifesaver on helping the cyclist - though in vain RIP, condolences to family and friends.

[Oxford]

Not enough to hit him but ran away too. This is murder by any other definition and a cowardly act. Good on the lifesaver on helping the cyclist - though in vain RIP, condolences to family and friends.

Driver found and arrested:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-04/m ... st/3758358

[zero]

Not enough to hit him but ran away too. This is murder by any other definition and a cowardly act. Good on the lifesaver on helping the cyclist - though in vain RIP, condolences to family and friends.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/van-driver-on ... 1plsk.html

looks like the police agree it was murder by the actual definition too.

[CommuRider]

More here as well. Charged with murder and refused bail.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/lates ... YWxsPTE%3D


Latest Media Releases

Man charged with murder following death of cyclist - Mullumbimby

Thursday, 05 January 2012 07:09:51 AM

Police have arrested and charged a man with murder after allegedly running down a cyclist at Mullumbimby earlier in the week. About 10:30am, Tuesday 3 January 2012, a 60-year-old man was riding his motorised bicycle south along Coolamon Scenic Drive when he was allegedly hit from behind by a white van. The van driver allegedly failed to stop at the scene and the 60-year-old man was found by a passing surf life saver. The injured man was taken to Mullumbimby Hospital where he died. Detectives from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command and officers from the Ballina Crash Investigation Unit attended the scene and commenced investigations into the incident. About 10am yesterday (Wednesday 4 January 2012), police attended a house in Nashua where they arrested a 53-year-old man and seized his white Toyota Hiace van for examination.

The man was taken to Byron Bay Police Station where he was charged with murder and dangerous driving occasioning death. He has been refused bail to appear in Lismore Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 5 January 2012).

Police would like to thank members of the public for their assistance with the matter, however, would still like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision and has not yet spoken to police. Anyone with information that could assist police with their inquiries is asked to contact Byron Bay Police or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.

[CommuRider]

Not enough to hit him but ran away too. This is murder by any other definition and a cowardly act. Good on the lifesaver on helping the cyclist - though in vain RIP, condolences to family and friends.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/van-driver-on ... 1plsk.html

looks like the police agree it was murder by the actual definition too.

He didn't hand himself in either and M'bimby's a small town. Local killing a local and not stopping to help? Not a good look.

[Ozkaban]

Not enough to hit him but ran away too. This is murder by any other definition and a cowardly act. Good on the lifesaver on helping the cyclist - though in vain RIP, condolences to family and friends.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/van-driver-on ... 1plsk.html

looks like the police agree it was murder by the actual definition too.

Yeah, I heard about the murder charge this morning on the radio. To me it sounds like there might have been some history between the two parties here as a regular hit and run isn't usually murder... It has to be intentional. Could easily be wrong about this one though.

[hannos]

To me it sounds like there might have been some history between the two parties here as a regular hit and run isn't usually murder... It has to be intentional. Could easily be wrong about this one though.

Regardless of the history, I for one, am glad a murder charge has been laid.
Hopefully it'll start to get the message across that cyclist aren't targets.

Still, it doesn't help the victim's family at all

[CommuRider]

Wow, I don't like you so I'll just run you over and leave you to die

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/839 ... list-death

Inspector Greg Jago said the two men knew each other. "We are aware that both parties knew each other prior to the incident and apparently there was some animosity between them," he told Fairfax Radio.

If there was no murder charge, the victim's family could very well have taken matters in their own hands.

SMH now has a photo of him and his e-bike. Bike is very serious looking with big engine and whitewall tyres. Not a run of the mill e-bike.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/muchloved-vol ... 1pm2d.html

He built motorised bikes

http://fosscati.wordpress.com/

https://mobile.twitter.com/Fosscati

[CommuRider]

Curiouser and curiouser

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-05/m ... ection=nsw

Police say Mitchell lead them on a two-kilometre chase through rugged bushland before being caught. Inspector Greg Jago says information from the community led officers to Nashua.

"It is now apparent the collision involving the van and the bicycle at Mullumbimby wasn't an accident as was originally reported to police, and as a result a 53-year-old man has been charged with murder," he said.

[Oxford]

Interesting that they have removed the death from the road toll because it is a murder charge.

[Livetoride]

RIP and all our thoughts to his family. Lock the prat up for life in a cell mate called Bubba.

[CommuRider]

Interesting that they have removed the death from the road toll because it is a murder charge.

Wondered about that too. Do they have enough evidence to show this was premeditated?

[TimW]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/839 ... list-death

[Oxford]

Interesting that they have removed the death from the road toll because it is a murder charge.

Wondered about that too. Do they have enough evidence to show this was premeditated?

according to the article, there was animosity between the men. just hypothesising, I think the driver saw an opportunity to "scare" this person and it went all pear shaped when he actually hit him. despite how I feel about the situation, I believe a charge of manslaughter will be the result, not murder.

then going back to my first comment, would that then be included or excluded in the road toll?

[wombatK]

despite how I feel about the situation, I believe a charge of manslaughter will be the result, not murder.

The reports (e.g. Channel Nine's) clearly state he has been charged with murder, as a result of information received from
the public.

Perhaps someone overheard him describe what he intended to do, and has reported this. If so, the murder
charge could stick. Of course, there's all sorts of ways lawyers can twist and appeal things that could result
in a down-grade to manslaughter or culpable driving etc.,.

None of it brings the victim back, but let's hope some justice might be served - and that
bubba has his way with the offender.

[Oxford]

despite how I feel about the situation, I believe a charge of manslaughter will be the result, not murder.

The reports (e.g. Channel Nine's) clearly state he has been charged with murder, as a result of information received from
the public.

Perhaps someone overheard him describe what he intended to do, and has reported this. If so, the murder
charge could stick. Of course, there's all sorts of ways lawyers can twist and appeal things that could result
in a down-grade to manslaughter or culpable driving etc.,.

None of it brings the victim back, but let's hope some justice might be served - and that
bubba has his way with the offender.

that's what I mean. the police may initially charge with murder, but as the case evidence is gathered and considered, the DPP may decide that the evidence is not enough to hold the higher charge and go for the lesser charge as a way of hopefully "guaranteeing" a better outcome ie guilty.

I too also think the fact they caught up with the driver so quickly suggests clear and obvious animosity known to others, but whether that knowledge makes it into evidence will be for the DPP to decide.

I just hope if he is found guilty that the judge does not go soft on the penalty, that would be a crime given what we currently know about the circumstances, limited as they are.

[CommuRider]

The car was used as a weapon to deliberately harm the deceased. The driver also had no compunction running away from the scene of a crime. I hope the magistrate takes into account that if it were a pedestrian, leniency would not be an option. Just the hatefest on the Daily Terror's page on this story does frighten me a bit with the constant justification that cyclists on roads are asking to be hit In this case, the perpetrator is known to the deceased but the latter being on his bike somehow makes it all right that the former can be eligible for a lesser sentence.

If a motive can be proven, that this was premeditated than a crime of opportunity, deliberate harm to a person causing his death is no less of a crime because he was on a bike, and a pioneering inventor at that.

That being said, he also ran away from the police and they chased him for 2kms before being caught. His actions after the crime must count for something.

[herzog]

Wow, I don't like you so I'll just run you over and leave you to die

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/839 ... list-death

Inspector Greg Jago said the two men knew each other. "We are aware that both parties knew each other prior to the incident and apparently there was some animosity between them," he told Fairfax Radio.

SMH now has a photo of him and his e-bike. Bike is very serious looking with big engine and whitewall tyres. Not a run of the mill e-bike.

Not an ebike at all by the looks of it. Appears to be one of those two-stroke things.

Technically it's an unregistered motorcycle.

[scotto]

this shouldnt count as a cyclist issue - its now reported they new each other and had previous issues. its just murder, not an accident in any way

[Oxford]

this shouldnt count as a cyclist issue - its now reported they new each other and had previous issues. its just murder, not an accident in any way

I mostly agree with you, but it did involve a cyclist, or at least a person riding a bicycle (of sorts). Other than knowing each other I wonder how different this is to a driver taking the same action (attempting to buzz/scare a cyclist) and then actually making contact and injuring/killing the cyclist? We hear plenty of stories from members about motorists who when given plenty of opportunity to do the safe thing (say change lanes to pass) do not and choose to scare/buzz the cyclist. Some are even stupid enough to announce their intention or make it clear post pass it was their intention. So other than previous relationships between the two of them, how does this matter differ? Not arguing BTW, genuinely interested in discussion and how people feel. It relates back to my earlier comments about the DPP proving a case and my cynicism about how this will potentially pan out.

[simonn]

this shouldnt count as a cyclist issue - its now reported they new each other and had previous issues. its just murder, not an accident in any way

I mostly agree with you, but it did involve a cyclist, or at least a person riding a bicycle (of sorts).

It is a moped. Look around on youtube and vimeo. There are some videos of him riding it he does not really pedal at all.