A bicyclist is in critical condition after being struck on Monday evening.
The crash occurred around 5:30 pm at the intersection of 31st and Roanoke. As the cyclist moved through the intersection, they were struck by the driver of a car traveling west on 31st Street. The impact ejected the rider onto the hood and windshield of the vehicle.
The rider, identified as a 31-year-old male, then fell off the car, striking his head on the pavement. He was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injures.
The driver stopped after the crash occurred.
“Our first priority is making sure that the cyclist will be alright,” said Eric Rogers, executive director for BikeWalkKC. “We’re all hoping that this person will pull through and we’re relieved that the driver stopped after the crash occurred.”
“Our first reaction should not be to blame the victim of this crash,” noted BikeWalkKC policy coordinator Michael Kelley. “Instead, we need to use this as an opportunity to evaluate and identify ways to improve the built environment.”
As BikeWalkKC has stated in the past, what deserves the brunt of the blame for these crashes is the culture that values car traffic efficiency over the safety of human lives.
For more information, contact Karen Campbell, director of development and communications, at (816) 205-7056 (ext. 2) or by email at karen.campbell@bikewalkkc.org.
BikeWalkKC believes that crashes are not accidents and clothing is not an excuse.