2019 Cycling Fatalities

[queequeg]

Yes, I'm taking quiet back roads and staying well away from my usual on-road routes. It's depressing how many of these fatalities and major incidents are happening at the moment.

This time of year you need to be extra alert. Many drivers just haven't got the message about drink driving. I am working this week, but I think out office building will be closed for maintenance so will have to work from home. I may just do a commute on the M7 bike path, but even that has it's fair share of issues. School holidays means bogans on trail bikes tearing up the paths (latest photo from this week has three masked guys on one bike). A couple of months ago another rider came within mm of being hit by a car that had crashed off the M7 roadway, jumped the culvert and ended up airborne over the bike path.

Anyway, I'd normally be smashing out the Festive 500, but I hit my yearly goal with time to spare, and with the two guys from my club fresh in my mind, I am just taking it easy. I have my first big ride on Jan 4th for my Audax YRR, and not long after that there will be two funerals to attend.

[g-boaf]

Yes, I'm taking quiet back roads and staying well away from my usual on-road routes. It's depressing how many of these fatalities and major incidents are happening at the moment.

This time of year you need to be extra alert. Many drivers just haven't got the message about drink driving. I am working this week, but I think out office building will be closed for maintenance so will have to work from home. I may just do a commute on the M7 bike path, but even that has it's fair share of issues. School holidays means bogans on trail bikes tearing up the paths (latest photo from this week has three masked guys on one bike). A couple of months ago another rider came within mm of being hit by a car that had crashed off the M7 roadway, jumped the culvert and ended up airborne over the bike path.

Anyway, I'd normally be smashing out the Festive 500, but I hit my yearly goal with time to spare, and with the two guys from my club fresh in my mind, I am just taking it easy. I have my first big ride on Jan 4th for my Audax YRR, and not long after that there will be two funerals to attend.

I saw a trail bike last week blasting along there, and that rider who nearly got taken out by the car (which crashed through the cycle way) very nearly could have been me with him, as we often ride home together, just that it didn’t happen that day. That was a shock to see the photos.

Even on a cycle way you aren’t safe, on the local one the other day some guy is riding in his superbike through there (slowly, but still not allowed).

Despite all that, I’m riding regardless. If I stop, then they’ve won.

[robbo mcs]

The cyclist killed on the Nullabor was an Australian touring cyclist

He was currently going around Australia, and had an active blog on the CGOAB touring forum, which I had been following.

So sad. Unfortunately, if you look at his blog, a few days earlier he had complained about a few near misses

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/ ... sted=0&v=c

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/directory/?user=zuggy

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o ... 15809&v=TF

[familyguy]

I am sure he was on here, too. I remember seeing the url in a sig...

[AdelaidePeter]

I am sure he was on here, too. I remember seeing the url in a sig...

Not necessarily, because crazyguyonabike.com hosts multiple cyclist blogs. It doesn't make it any less sad, though.

[AdelaidePeter]

Another cyclist death in Adelaide after a crash on December 20 . SAPOL website https://www.police.sa.gov.au/sa-police- ... gW01mYlFoA says:

On Friday 20 December at about 6.40pm, a male cyclist was riding on Pierre Street at Modbury, when he fell from his bike causing serious head injuries. The 38-year-old man from Modbury was conveyed to hospital but sadly died on Thursday 26 December. No other vehicles were involved. Police were not aware of the crash and did not attend at the time, but have since been notified of his death which is now being investigated.

[queequeg]

Just an update on the two members of our club that were killed in the Richmond crash on Dec 19th.

Both funerals will be held in the New Year.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for each rider to help their families in this difficult time.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/chris-culver-memorial-fund

https://www.gofundme.com/f/havill-family

[g-boaf]

Just an update on the two members of our club that were killed in the Richmond crash on Dec 19th.

Both funerals will be held in the New Year.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for each rider to help their families in this difficult time.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/chris-culver-memorial-fund

https://www.gofundme.com/f/havill-family

Great of Kim to set that up - she's a top person (and for the other one as well). I'll chip in shortly. Thanks for sharing this.

[queequeg]

https://www.facebook.com/16502767251989 ... 27595/?d=n

North Western Sydney Cycling Club would like to advise the funeral service details for both Geoff Havill and Chris Culver. Both men were sadly taken from us on 19 December 2019 under tragic circumstances. Family and friends of Geoff and Chris are warmly invited to attend the Funeral Services:

Culver, Christopher (Chris) Brian
16.05.1979 – 19.12.2019
Date: Thursday, 2nd January 2020
Time: 2:00PM
Where: Garden Chapel, Castlebrook Memorial Park
Wake: Following the funeral service at The Marsden Brewhouse, Marsden Park

Havill, Geoff
23.06.1970 – 19.12.2019
Date: Monday, 6th January 2020
Time: 1:00PM
Where: Garden Chapel, Castlebrook Memorial Park
Wake: Following the funeral service at The Fiddler, Rouse Hill

[Bunged Knee]

From News.com.au on 6/2/20.

Unspeakable loss’: Teenager accused of dangerous driving causing deaths of two cyclists,

A TEENAGE driver accused of hitting and killing two cyclists in northwest Sydney days before Christmas has faced court for the first time.

Nicholas James Parker is charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death, negligent driving and failing to drive left of a dividing line.

The 19-year-old from Grose Vale allegedly hit Geoffrey Havill, 49, and Christopher Culver, 40, on Kurrajong Rd in Richmond before 5am on December 19.

Mr Parker's bail was continued at Windsor Local Court today. He's due back in court on April 2.

[trailgumby]

Just a head's up. Cameron Frewer (bianchicam)'s killer is due to be sentenced in Maroochydore on Monday. I've submitted a Victims-of-Crime statement to the prosecutor to be read in court.

Miss you, Cameron.

[AUbicycles]

Trailgumby, thanks for the update. Would it be appropriate to start a new thread to discuss the Victims of Crime statement - I don't know much about this and how it ties in so interested to hear more if you are able to share.

[jasonc]

Thanks trailgumby

[queequeg]

From News.com.au on 6/2/20.

Unspeakable loss’: Teenager accused of dangerous driving causing deaths of two cyclists,

A TEENAGE driver accused of hitting and killing two cyclists in northwest Sydney days before Christmas has faced court for the first time.

Nicholas James Parker is charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death, negligent driving and failing to drive left of a dividing line.

The 19-year-old from Grose Vale allegedly hit Geoffrey Havill, 49, and Christopher Culver, 40, on Kurrajong Rd in Richmond before 5am on December 19.

Mr Parker's bail was continued at Windsor Local Court today. He's due back in court on April 2.

Thanks for the update. I hadn’t seen any follow up. I assume this was just a mention, so no plea as yet.

I went to both funerals.

[caneye]

just fyi https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-ac ... 74015b39ee

[Bunged Knee]

just fyi https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-ac ... 74015b39ee

Didn't you missed my post above from last Saturday?
viewtopic.php?p=1504137#p1504137

[find_bruce]

Just a head's up. Cameron Frewer (bianchicam)'s killer is due to be sentenced in Maroochydore on Monday. I've submitted a Victims-of-Crime statement to the prosecutor to be read in court.

Miss you, Cameron.

It would seem that John Joseph Taylor, having been found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and driving with drugs in his system, has failed to show up to court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

[g-boaf]

Just a head's up. Cameron Frewer (bianchicam)'s killer is due to be sentenced in Maroochydore on Monday. I've submitted a Victims-of-Crime statement to the prosecutor to be read in court.

Miss you, Cameron.

It would seem that John Joseph Taylor, having been found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and driving with drugs in his system, has failed to show up to court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Why doesn’t that surprise me?

[trailgumby]

Just a head's up. Cameron Frewer (bianchicam)'s killer is due to be sentenced in Maroochydore on Monday. I've submitted a Victims-of-Crime statement to the prosecutor to be read in court.

Miss you, Cameron.

It would seem that John Joseph Taylor, having been found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and driving with drugs in his system, has failed to show up to court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Why doesn’t that surprise me?

Since been recaptured and remanded. I am concerned that his counsel have sought and been granted a petition to be excused from representing Mr Taylor, and he now has a public defender. I am hoping there will not be a change of plea, for Catherine Frewer's sake.

[queequeg]

Since been recaptured and remanded. I am concerned that his counsel have sought and been granted a petition to be excused from representing Mr Taylor, and he now has a public defender. I am hoping there will not be a change of plea, for Catherine Frewer's sake.

I'm not a lawyer, but having already pleaded guilty and absconded from the sentencing hearing, is that even a possibility? Clearly his defence counsel have had enough.
Where is the news of his capture posted?

[RobertL]

Where is the news of his capture posted?

It was in the local Sunshine Coast print media. I saw links to it from a couple of Brisbane/Qld FaceBook cycling groups.

[find_bruce]

I'm not a lawyer, but having already pleaded guilty and absconded from the sentencing hearing, is that even a possibility? Clearly his defence counsel have had enough.

It is possible, but not easy to withdraw a guilty plea - they have to show a good reason & that is hard when the person was legally represented (lawyer X is an entirely different rare exception). It also comes at a significant cost of losing the discount on sentence for an early guilty plea, typically around 25%.

It is unlikely that we will ever know why his lawyers have ceased to act. It may be related to his non-attendance, he might have lost confidence in his lawyers, but it could also be as simple as not paying his bills.

[queequeg]

Where is the news of his capture posted?

It was in the local Sunshine Coast print media. I saw links to it from a couple of Brisbane/Qld FaceBook cycling groups.

So I assume he's now in remand waiting for sentencing, with extra charges for absconding?

[RobertL]

Where is the news of his capture posted?

It was in the local Sunshine Coast print media. I saw links to it from a couple of Brisbane/Qld FaceBook cycling groups.

So I assume he's now in remand waiting for sentencing, with extra charges for absconding?

I believe so.

[outnabike]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/break ... 6a00c5c9de
NSW man charged for death in bike crash
Ashlea Witoslawski, Australian Associated Press
April 12, 2020 2:45pm
•
A 31-year-old NSW man has been charged for killing a pedestrian and severely injuring another, after allegedly crashing into them on a stolen trail bike in Broken Hill.
Emergency services were called to the scene at Creedon Street, Broken Hill on Friday evening.
A 57-year-old man was taken to Broken Hill Hospital in a serious condition, before he was airlifted to Dubbo Base Hospital with leg and rib injuries.
A 34-year-old woman died at the scene.
The trail bike rider was also injured and tried to leave the scene but was held by witnesses until police arrived.