Angry driver takes out 50-strong cycle pack
Dylan Welch and Daniel Emerson
May 8, 2008
About 50 cyclists - including Australian racer Kate Nichols, who was injured in a 2005 German road racing crash in which a teammate was killed - have been involved in a hit-and-run crash in Sydney this morning.
The resulting smash forced a semitrailer to lock up, jackknife and screech to a halt behind the cyclists while cars had to swerve to avoid them. Also involved in the crash, at 6.35am on South Cross Drive, south of the corner of Dacey Avenue in Mascot, were former Olympians Ben Kersten, Kate’s father Kevin Nichols, Graeme Brown, Mark Renshaw, Michelle Ferris and Matthew White.
Witnesses to the crash have told smh.com.au the group of about up to 60 professional cyclists were riding south on Southern Cross Drive, just south of Dacey Avenue, Mascot about 6.30am when a driver, agitated with being held up, accelerated in front of the pack and then slammed on his brakes.
One of the riders said the cycling group called itself the Coluzzi Ride after the Darlinghurst cafe it regularly set out from and was made up of "serious, A-grade riders and pros’’.
"A lot of Olympians and professionals when they are in town join the ride, most of them are just higher level amateurs, you have to be pretty fast to keep up,’’ said rider, 27-year-old Nick Cooper.
One of the group said the motorists was “worrying” the rear of the pack, then overtook, pulled in front and slammed on his brakes, giving the riders no time to stop. “Everyone’s slammed into each other … there were broken bikes - wheels busted and wheels snapped - and people lying on the road.”
Mr Cooper said" "{`Three female cyclists took the brunt of the accident, careering into the back of the braking vehicle, several of them being thrown into the air landing on the boot and roof of the car. "Most riders were left with cuts and bruises and at least some damage to bikes, shoes and helmets, including some bikes sustaining thousands of dollars of damage.
"This whole incident really exemplified the escalating road rage towards cyclists happening on Sydney’s roads. "Road rage seems to occur with or without provocation, and regardless of whether cyclists are riding in a law abiding way, or slowing down traffic.
"A perfect example of the enmity were the jeers and taunts of several drivers (more than 3 separate drivers that I noticed) making their way past the aftermath of the accident, despite the fact that a police car and two ambulances were on the scene treating seriously injured people.
"[A] policemen informed us that the back of the group was nearly cleaned up by a semitrailer locking the brakes to avoid the suddenly halting group, with its trailer jack-knifing and sliding towards the group before being skilfully brought under control by the driver, narrowly avoiding potential fatalities,’’ Mr Cooper said. He said he overheard one rider telling a policewoman that his bicycle, which had sustained major damage to its front wheel, was worth $9000.
Michelle Ferris, who was a the front of the pack, described the collision. "We we’re all in the left hand lane and this Ford Falcon came from the middle lane and swerved into the front of the bunch and braked suddenly,’’ she said. "We were doing about 40 kilometres an hour , there was no way for me to go and I went straight into the back of his car and other riders went into me. "My chin [hit] the back window and my bike was totalled.’’
Police - including an off-duty officer who witnessed the crash - quickly closed the lane down while they investigated the incident. It is understood they know who the driver of the car is, and are attempting to contact him now.
It is expected he will be charged, including with failing to stop at the scene of an accident and negligent or dangerous driving. There was no doubt the driver of the dark blue Ford Falcon - described by other witnesses as in his 30s with a female passenger - had done it deliberately, she said.
Everyone was particularly worried about Kate Nichols, given her involvement in the 2005 road crash in Germany in which national team member Amy Gillett was killed, Ferris said. "We we’re all very worried about her. When I saw her she was as white as a ghost still sitting on the ground.’’
Kate’s father Kevin, who was also involved in the crash, said his daughter was at a doctor’s surgery having some serious grazes treated. She also received a bad bump to the head, he said. "Everyone’s slammed their brakes on and slammed into each other … there were broken bikes - wheels busted and wheels snapped - and people lying on the road,’’ another cyclist involved said.
No-one was seriously injured in the crash, but most most cyclists suffered cuts, bruises and some sprains and possible fractures, he said.
The damage bill for the crash is expected to exceed $30,000, the cyclists said.
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