A 24-year-old Kennesaw man has been arrested for a deadly accident that occurred just after midnight on Christmas Eve when police say he struck and killed a bicyclist before fleeing the scene. The accident occurred on Ernest Barrett Parkway and Crater Lake Drive, when the bicyclist was struck from behind by a 2006 Honda Civic. The 67-year-old bicyclist was transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he later died of his injuries. Authorities noted that the bicyclist had equipped his bike with a proper headlight and taillight.
The police were able to track the Civic to a home in Kennesaw where they arrested the driver on suspicion of improper passing of a bicyclist, DUI, hit-and-run, and vehicular homicide. He was booked into the Cobb County Jail.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 800 people are killed in the U.S. each year as a result of bicycle accidents, with accidents most commonly occurring during hours of darkness, when it is more difficult to see them on the roadway and when drivers of motor vehicles are more likely to be intoxicated. Alcohol is involved in about one-quarter of all fatal bicycle accidents.
Rear-end bicycle crashes, which occur when a vehicle collides with the back of the bike, are a particularly dangerous situation for the cyclist, as the force of the vehicle’s forward motion generally propels the cyclist forward, ejecting them from the bike and often causing them to make contact with their head and the roadway.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a bicycle accident, an experienced attorney from Cambre & Associates LLC can help you understand the legal process of obtaining compensation for the expenses and impacts of your injury or loss. Contact us for a free case evaluation.
