Last week, a 16-year-old driver was arrested and charged for harassing bicyclists in Greenville. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the investigation started with a few posts on the Greenville Spinners Bicycle Club Facebook page. Apparently, numerous cyclists reported having been harassed by a driver in Northern areas of the county. Upon investigation, law enforcement officials with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office found that the driver was a 16-year-old male in a Hyundai Tiburon.
Teen Driver Charged with Attempted Murder
In addition to verbally assaulting cyclists, the driver escalated to physical assaults including spitting, throwing drinks and even tossing lit fireworks at the riders. There were also attempts and threats to crash into the cyclists and efforts to cause them to crash. On April 10, the juvenile driver was charged and arrested for six counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault and battery 1st degree, two counts of assault and battery 3rd degree, two counts of throwing fireworks from a motor vehicle and 11 counts of taunting a bicycle.
U.S. Bicycle Crash Facts
- In 2012, 726 cyclists were killed in crashes across the nation.
- An additional 49,000 cyclists were injured in crashes.
- Cyclist deaths and injuries accounted for about two percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities and injuries during that year.
- In 2012, 682 cyclists were killed on U.S. roadways.
Share The Road
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a variety of tips for increasing cyclist safety. In addition to never driving or riding distracted, riders and drivers are encouraged to Share The Road. Sharing the road means drivers and cyclists need to lookout for one another and show mutual respect. Drivers should remember that cyclists don’t have the same safety advantages as passenger in cars, so even seemingly minor crashes can send cyclists to the hospital or worse.
Keeping Cyclists in Asheville Safe
Cyclists are one of the most vulnerable roadway user groups, and they are truly at the mercy of drivers on the roadway. At this time, at least 11 victims have come forward, but investigators suspect that there could be more. If a negligent or intentionally willful driver has injured you or somebody you love, contact the skilled legal team at Davis Law Group, P.A. at 888-773-8388 for an immediate free consultation.