2008 Woodie Awards
Cyclist struck in hit-and-run on Hwy 101
Geology professor recovers in Santa Rosa
Colleen Roberts
Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: Community
- Page 1 of 1
Being a skilled cyclist is not enough to protect from collisions.
Humboldt State University geology professor Harvey Kelsey sustained major injuries on Tuesday when he was struck by a suspected hit and run driver. Kelsey was riding north on the right hand side of U.S. Highway 101, just north of the Bayside Cutoff, at about 12:30 p.m. when he was hit by a late-model pick-up truck.
The truck was reported by witnesses to be driving erratically and swerved into the bicycle lane.
Tracy Cooke, 36, of McKinleyville, contacted police the next day. According to California Highway Patrol (CHP) press release, officers conducted a brief interview and inspected her truck. The CHP decided enough evidence was present to seek felony hit-and-run charges through the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office.
Cooke was not arrested at the time of the interview. The CHP officer determined she should not be considered a flight risk. The California Highway Patrol reports hit-and-run incidents occur in almost ten percent of collisions that result in injuries or fatalities.
Professor Kelsey's injuries are not life threatening. He is recovering in a hospital in Santa Rosa and scheduled for surgery on his arm today.
A post on a public message board that Kelsey is a member of states that he was known as a "strong and skilled rider who often rides at noon between classes." Kelsey was known for wearing proper safety equipment, including brightly colored clothes and safety helmet.
Highway 101 is the only access from Eureka to Arcata that has a separate lane for bicycle travel. Riding a bike on Highway 101 is not for the faint of heart. Cars speed past cyclists at 50 miles per hour or more with only three feet and no physical divider separating the two.
CHP public records state that in 2005 there were 132 fatalities and 10,428 injuries reported in California due to vehicle and bicycle collisions.
A few local organizations, like Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association, Humboldt State's Green Wheels and Redwood Community Action Agency have been working on gaining safer bicycle options in our area. The Humboldt Bay Trail Feasibility Study released in June, outlines a proposal to connect Arcata and Eureka with a pedestrian and bicycle path along the railroad tracks on the west side of 101.
Maryruth Stubbs, a Humboldt State nursing major, uses her bicycle to go almost everywhere. She says it is not so dangerous to travel on 101, but she points out that if it is after dark she prefers to take the bus. Stubbs has had two collisions on her bike: one in Southern California and one in Michigan, but both times the car stopped and Stubbs was not seriously hurt in either.
Even just riding around Arcata on a bicycle can feel unsafe. Stephanie Misiura, a Theatre and Studio Art sophomore, recalls being hit by a car while trying to ride her bicycle across Sunset Ave. bridge.
"It can be hard to get across to the bike lanes from the other side of the road," Misiura said. She feels lucky that she did not sustain any injuries during her accident but still calls the episode "kind of scary." The car involved in that incident didn't stop.
Bicycles and automobile drivers share the road. Only 58 percent of automobile/bicycle collisions are caused by driver error as calculated by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Stubbs points out the importance of collision prevention for all road users to acknowledge equal responsibility in road safety.
Cards for Professor Kelsey may be sent through the geology department office.
Colleen Roberts can be reached at cr45@humboldt.edu
Bicycle Road Safety
Give pedestrians the right-of-way
Ride with traffic, not against
Do not ride wrong way on one-way streets
Stop at all stop signs and lights
Wear bright clothes and a helmet
Use lights and reflectors at night and in fog
Never ride intoxicated
If bike lane is impeded, check traffic before moving into road
Use hand signals
Don't wear headphones in both ears
Driving with Bicycles
Check for bicycles before turning right or pulling out into traffic
Don't underestimate the speed a bicycle is traveling
Don't overtake a bicycle before turning
Look before opening door when parked on a street
Recognize bicycles have right to use the road
Always pass cautiously
Watch for riders trying to change into the left lane
Respect bicycles and pedestrians - they will be hurt more in a collision
Humboldt State University geology professor Harvey Kelsey sustained major injuries on Tuesday when he was struck by a suspected hit and run driver. Kelsey was riding north on the right hand side of U.S. Highway 101, just north of the Bayside Cutoff, at about 12:30 p.m. when he was hit by a late-model pick-up truck.
The truck was reported by witnesses to be driving erratically and swerved into the bicycle lane.
Tracy Cooke, 36, of McKinleyville, contacted police the next day. According to California Highway Patrol (CHP) press release, officers conducted a brief interview and inspected her truck. The CHP decided enough evidence was present to seek felony hit-and-run charges through the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office.
Cooke was not arrested at the time of the interview. The CHP officer determined she should not be considered a flight risk. The California Highway Patrol reports hit-and-run incidents occur in almost ten percent of collisions that result in injuries or fatalities.
Professor Kelsey's injuries are not life threatening. He is recovering in a hospital in Santa Rosa and scheduled for surgery on his arm today.
A post on a public message board that Kelsey is a member of states that he was known as a "strong and skilled rider who often rides at noon between classes." Kelsey was known for wearing proper safety equipment, including brightly colored clothes and safety helmet.
Highway 101 is the only access from Eureka to Arcata that has a separate lane for bicycle travel. Riding a bike on Highway 101 is not for the faint of heart. Cars speed past cyclists at 50 miles per hour or more with only three feet and no physical divider separating the two.
CHP public records state that in 2005 there were 132 fatalities and 10,428 injuries reported in California due to vehicle and bicycle collisions.
A few local organizations, like Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association, Humboldt State's Green Wheels and Redwood Community Action Agency have been working on gaining safer bicycle options in our area. The Humboldt Bay Trail Feasibility Study released in June, outlines a proposal to connect Arcata and Eureka with a pedestrian and bicycle path along the railroad tracks on the west side of 101.
Maryruth Stubbs, a Humboldt State nursing major, uses her bicycle to go almost everywhere. She says it is not so dangerous to travel on 101, but she points out that if it is after dark she prefers to take the bus. Stubbs has had two collisions on her bike: one in Southern California and one in Michigan, but both times the car stopped and Stubbs was not seriously hurt in either.
Even just riding around Arcata on a bicycle can feel unsafe. Stephanie Misiura, a Theatre and Studio Art sophomore, recalls being hit by a car while trying to ride her bicycle across Sunset Ave. bridge.
"It can be hard to get across to the bike lanes from the other side of the road," Misiura said. She feels lucky that she did not sustain any injuries during her accident but still calls the episode "kind of scary." The car involved in that incident didn't stop.
Bicycles and automobile drivers share the road. Only 58 percent of automobile/bicycle collisions are caused by driver error as calculated by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Stubbs points out the importance of collision prevention for all road users to acknowledge equal responsibility in road safety.
Cards for Professor Kelsey may be sent through the geology department office.
Colleen Roberts can be reached at cr45@humboldt.edu
Bicycle Road Safety
Give pedestrians the right-of-way
Ride with traffic, not against
Do not ride wrong way on one-way streets
Stop at all stop signs and lights
Wear bright clothes and a helmet
Use lights and reflectors at night and in fog
Never ride intoxicated
If bike lane is impeded, check traffic before moving into road
Use hand signals
Don't wear headphones in both ears
Driving with Bicycles
Check for bicycles before turning right or pulling out into traffic
Don't underestimate the speed a bicycle is traveling
Don't overtake a bicycle before turning
Look before opening door when parked on a street
Recognize bicycles have right to use the road
Always pass cautiously
Watch for riders trying to change into the left lane
Respect bicycles and pedestrians - they will be hurt more in a collision
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
connected-by-hyphens
posted 9/10/07 @ 9:17 PM EST
i'm glad y'all followed the advice of separated, by, commas, but now y'all got another thang.
he was not struck by a hit AND a run driver. he was only hit once. (Continued…)
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