August 2010 Archives

On Tuesday, August 24, 2010, Arthur John Martin, Jr., 51, a retired police officer, was riding his bicycle on Maryland 75 in Carroll County when he was struck by a tractor trailer.  The tractor trailer driver, Anthony Edward Woodie, 37, was operating his 1985 Peterbuilt on Shepherds Mill Road and was turning right on Maryland 75 when he failed to yield the right of way and struck Mr. Martin.  It was reported that Mr. Martin was thrown from his bicycle and then struck by the tractor-trailer.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

If a motorist is riding his vehicle on the public highways under the influence of alcohol and causes an accident, should he be arrested for  "driving under the influence"?  Should these same laws apply to an individual riding his bicycle on the public highways?  If motorists  are forced to share the roads with bicycles, then perhaps they should be held accountable for obeying the laws of the highways and the same penalties and consequences should apply.

In a recent Harford County accident, a 33 year old man was leaving a bar in Bel Air on his bicycle on Thursday, August 12, 2010, when he ran into a motor vehicle.  The bicyclist, Matthew Parker was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma for head injuries.  The injuries appeared not to be life-threatening.    

A family was resting on a bench from a bicycle ride on Sunday, August 8, 2010, when a car crashed into them near Russett Green West and Ridgemoor Drive in Laurel, Maryland in Anne Arundel County. The couple was sitting on the bench with their two twin boys when a car struck a light pole and then continued on to strike the bench where they were sitting.

The operator of the vehicle, 63 year old, Ms. Ramota Oluyemisi Koletowo was rushed to the hospital where she later died.  The 36 year old man was flown to Shock Trauma and his 38 year old wife was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital and their 4 year old son was rushed to Johns Hopkins Pediatric with head injuries.  Their second child was not injured. Police are still investigating the crash to determine whether it was fatigue or a medical emergency that contributed to the fatal car accident as Ms. Koletowo was on her way home from working an overnight shift.