Posted on Mon, Aug 1, 2011 : 5:08 p.m.
Truck driver in fatal Colorado bike accident accused of running cyclist off road in 2003
By Paula Gardner
The driver of a dump truck that collided with a founding member of the Ann Arbor Bicycling Touring Society on a Colorado road in June had two previous run-ins with cyclists, according to a report in the Boulder Daily Camera.
Christoper Loven, 45, was driving the dump truck when it struck and killed Phillip Howrey, formerly of Ann Arbor..
Jeremy Papasso | Boulder Daily Camera
However, Loven was ticketed in 2009 for suspicion of reckless endangerment after a cyclist said he pushed him into oncoming traffic.
In the most recent report, another cyclist said Loven cut him and another rider off in 2003, resulting in a fight and tickets for brawling.
Comments
aawolve
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.
I love how we get this guy's name in Colorado, but not the name of the guy on Washtenaw County's most wanted list.
dextermom
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 12:14 p.m.
Odd to juxtapose the thinking of this with the duckling killing.
Ron Granger
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 1:30 a.m.
So this is now the third incident, and the second where there is a claim that it was intentional. It makes you ask how many other times has he has done it, but wasn't caught.
zeeba
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 1:26 a.m.
We need to start imposing some stiff penalties on drivers or passengers who harass cyclists or endanger them through sheer negligence. Ever regular rider that I know has had been run off the road, had bottles thrown at them or smashed in front of their tires, been physically struck by passengers or sprayed with beer/soft drinks by belligerents in cars. That's not counting the ones that have actually been struck and hospitalized/killed by drivers who weren't paying attention. A woman was just killed in Canton by a driver making a right turn on red who wasn't paying attention to the pedestrian crossing and wasn't even aware she'd struck someone. As far as actual danger and criminal intent goes, deliberately endangering a cyclist is far worse than getting behind the wheel after having two drinks - but guess which one gets stuck with prison time and $10,000 in fines, court costs and attorney fees?
Townie
Mon, Aug 1, 2011 : 10:18 p.m.
Judges and public security officials should be required to ride a bike a few miles on at least a couple of days in order to better understand what it is really like to be out there with angry motorists who feel they own the road and need to 'send a message' to anyone who dares to try and walk, run or ride on a public throughway. I think it would be an enlightening experience and they'd suddenly realize how out of control things are out there in the non-automobile world. Just say'n...
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Aug 1, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.
Judges, it's obvious to see, are just as much a part of our "car culture" and anyone. Lets see some judges wake up and start doing their jobs - responsibly. Let other, better, judges step up and start delivering some meaningful punishments to these would-be murderers who think someone on a bicycle is just another squirrel to be run over and killed. Michigan, Colorada and every other state has to start paying attention to this kind of assault with a deadly weapon. If someone uses a hammer to kill another person and they're convicted: they pay the price. Using a car or truck to endanger or kill another human being is no less a crime. If the states do not start cracking down, then there's going to be eventual "pay back" applied to drivers as a class (just like they make cyclists a "class"). Law enforcement, prosecutors and judges: you'd better get serious about this. Are you listening, Washtenaw Sheriff's Department?