LOCAL RESIDENTS REACT WITH ‘BLAME THE CYCLIST’, PITY FOR DRIVER
RUSKIN, FL–November 30, 2013
Two Tampa Bay cyclists were killed yesterday in separate incidents, according to the Associated Press.
In the first incident, troopers say 47-year-old Anthony Steven Del Favero “rode his bicycle into the path of a Honda Civic Friday at about 6:30 p.m.”
Del Favero was transported to Tampa General Hospital where he died. No charges were filed against the driver. Jennifer Johnson was the Honda Civic driver. She is 36 and also from Tampa. She was not reported as injured. However, since the cyclist was unable to recount his version of the crash, there was no way to corroborate the driver’s account of what occurred.
In the second crash, Hillsborough deputies say 56-year-old Antonio Leon was struck by a vehicle from behind as he rode his bike Friday at 7 p.m. in Ruskin.
Investigators say the driver fled. The vehicle is believed to be a green 2003 to 2005 Saturn Ion with front end damage. The car may also have blue or silver paint from Leon’s bike.
After an account of the crashes in the Tampa Tribune online, two residents in the area commented that it was about time that cyclists obey the rules of the road, and one “felt sorry” for the driver, displaying once again the ingrown ignorance among drivers of the dangers that cyclist face, and before the outcome of the crash investigation has been revealed.
Wrote Joey Rinaldi Lemieux, of the Florida Metropolitan University, “he was hit by a white suv i saw it on my way to work it was clear and dry what happened i felt sorry for the driver.” And Jerry L Martin, of MoPar University wrote, “D.A. bicyclist. Obey the traffic laws as you expect the motorist to. I hope you have insurance so the innocent party doesn’t have to pay your medical bills.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-873-8477.
