Thursday, September 18, 2008
A student riding a bicycle ran into the rear end of a car temporarily parked in front of Marvin Hall, crashing through the rear windshield before falling to the pavement around 6 p.m. Wednesday night.
Andrew Cirocco, Mission Hills freshman, was bicycling east on Jayhawk Boulevard when he hit a Mazda 626 with Judson Bone, Topeka freshman, in the driver’s seat. Bone had pulled over to pick up a friend, Austin Bradley, Overland Park junior, whose class had just ended.
According to Bradley, Bone had only been stopped for about five seconds when he and Bone felt the abrupt impact to the car, followed shortly by the breaking of glass that showered into the car.
Andrew Cirocco, Mission Hills freshman, is treated for wounds he received when he collided with the rear of a car that was temporarily parked in front of Marvin Hall. According to witnesses, Cirocco flew over the car's trunk and partially through the rear windshield before falling to the pavement. Cirocco was later taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital. A Douglas County Fire and Medical spokesman listed Cirocco's condition as stable.
Zach Stoltenberg, Gering, Neb., senior, had just exited Marvin Hall and was descending the stairs when he heard the impact.
“I came running over,” Stoltenberg said. “The guys in the car had already gotten out, and were on their phones, calling for help. The kid was bleeding pretty bad. Somebody took off to get some paper towels, but by then, the police had already shown up.”
Stoltenberg said that although he didn’t see the collision with his own eyes, Cirocco must have been traveling at a substantial speed.
Judson Bone, Topeka freshman, recounts how his car was struck by bicyclist Andrew Cirocco to Captain Pat Talkington of Douglas County Fire and Medical. Bone was temporarily parked in front of Marvin Hall, about 20 yards east of Chi Omega fountain traffic circle when Cirocco collided with the vehicle, flying into the rear windshield before falling to the pavement.
“He was all the way up and over the car,” Stoltenberg said. “The thickest part of the bike frame was bent, so he had to be going pretty good.”
While Bone explained the incident to authorities to the best of his recollection, KU Public Safety officers and members of Douglas County Fire and Medical treated Cirocco’s wounds. They staunched multiple lacerations on his face and neck before standing him upright and placing him on a long spine board, a carrying device used to stabilize victims if a possible spinal injury is involved.
“I’m fine,” said Cirocco, the chest of his white t-shirt partially soaked in blood. “It doesn’t really hurt at all.”
While neither Bradley nor Bone were injured, Bone said he was stunned by the event.
“I’m just kind of shaken up right now,” said Bone.
The incident comes on the heels of recent efforts by the KU Public Safety office to step up cyclist’s awareness of traffic laws on campus, which include issuing fines for stop sign violations and other infractions. Under the law, bicycles are afforded the same rights and responsibilities as other motor vehicles, and cyclists are required to pay the same fines as motorists for violations.
Capt. Pat Talkington, of Douglas County Fire and Medical, said Cirocco was in stable condition when he was taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
— — Edited by Brenna Hawley
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Comments
Biker smashes through back window of car
Something that has always bothered me was people on bicycles, they sort of just do whatever they want and are not held accountable. Oh boy I swear they need to pay taxes & get licenses plates. You tree huggers have no thought for us in our fosil fueled vehicles. Larry Diesbach
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Biker smashes through back window of car
I wish this kid didn't have to get hurt, but he should have to pay for the damage to the other vehical. Bikers ride up and down Jayhawk Blvd., often with little regard to cars and the greater responsibility they have not to hit someone. Follow the rules like everyone else.
Biker smashes through back window of car
How did this happen? That's what I want to know. Was the kid riding and talking on his cell phone? was he fumbling with his iPhone or iPod? Seriously, hitting a parked car is the hardest thing to do on a bike, unless you get doored. Seriously, people, watch out. Chances are if you are on a bike, nobody is watching out for you.
Biker smashes through back window of car
It doesn't sound like no one was watching out for the bike rider. It sounds like he wasn't watching out for anyone else. That said, the driver could have slammed on his breaks (though not likely if he was picking someone up). The car was double parked and in the road, but still, if you run into the back of someone, it's your fault.
Biker smashes through back window of car
This story is a horrible example of journalism. There are so many lies in this story. It's pretty obvious that they did not ask Cirrocco anything.
There are not any parking space in front of Marvin. The car was not parked, and wasnt parked until after he hit the car. The car was traveling along Jayhawk, then slammed on its break in front of Marvin. He looked to the side real quick right before it happened. Also, he wasn't going faster than 10-15 mph. It does not take much for a bike to bend - I have done so with my own weight before and I am a medium sized guy.
Way to go UDK, usually you are good, but this time, you royally messed. up.
Biker smashes through back window of car
Way to go larrydiesbach you can't even spell fossil correctly...someone should take your license away and give you a bike. The fresh air might rejuvenate some dead braincells
Biker smashes through back window of car
The story says the car was "temporarily parked." I'd say a car stopped to pick someone up can be adequately described as such. The comments about the speed the bike was traveling are speculative, but clearly attributed to a source at the scene. Where did you get that the car slammed on its breaks? Were you there? The writer appears to have talked to the rider because he quotes him. He might not have been able to get much because of the time the incident happened and the fact the kid had to go to the hospital. Read a little closer.
Biker smashes through back window of car
acelin, you seem to have some inside information....perhaps because you're one Mr. Cirocco or a friend of his. No way you know all that without being him.
Even if you aren't, he still should be held responsible for his actions. Just like in a car, he should have been following at a safe distance. It's the driver's prerogative to be able to stop whenever he or she wants, and the other driver/rider should know to be far enough behind to be able to stop in time. If bicyclists want to be treated as motorists, they must abide by the same rules. In this case, it's a rear-ending, regardless of the "parked" status of the car.
Biker smashes through back window of car
i can't believe the UDK put a picture of this young man all bloddy on the front page of the newspaper. how awful for him and a true, true lack of class by the UDK. shame on you!
Biker smashes through back window of car
Andrew your an idiot.
Biker smashes through back window of car
$10 says drugs or alcohol were involved in this incident.
Biker smashes through back window of car
jhawj4life shame on you for whining...what else was the picture supposed to be of? A mangled bicycle, which then would have given the impression that he was potentially killed.
Biker smashes through back window of car
Union, I'd argue "your" an idiot, too.
Biker smashes through back window of car
The car couldn't have stopped too abruptly. The passenger, Bradley, appears to have had time to enter the car. The cyclist also admits on FFA that he wasn't paying attention. The picture is fine, too. Every news paper in the country showed pictures of injured people after 9/11. It doesn't mock him or prejudice him in any way. You're being a little ridiculous. This was a good piece. Don’t blame the paper because you don’t like event.
Biker smashes through back window of car
godzilla, what other news publication do they publish pictures of the victims after an accident? they had a picture of the car, so they could've used that. if someone was shot, would they put a picture of the body lying there? in a body bag, maybe. am i supposed to look at this picture of a guy with a bloody face and say 'wow, cool!?' or 'oh that sucks' or 'eww gross.' the story leads the reader to believe that this dude was being careless, so yes, i feel bad for him that his bloody face is on the front page of the paper.
Biker smashes through back window of car
It's understandable that you sympathize for the kid, but there is no valid reason for omitting the picture. His pride doesn't negate the fact that it is a compelling picture for the piece. It took us a while, but papers show dead American soldiers. That's even more difficult because not only are the people dead, but they also have family grieving. We do show gunshot victims and injured people in news papers all across the country. What is so egregious about the photo, specifically?
Biker smashes through back window of car
No drugs or alcohol were involved. The reporter simply asked his name and how he was feeling, nothing else. Therefore the reporter has only the story that some dumbass college students told them so they would look less bad.
Biker smashes through back window of car
Look worse than someone saying "less bad?" Way to make a point by calling someone a dumbass you’ve never met. It’s as bad as mr2b’s comment, void of any real point. The reporter did a fine job covering a fairly hectic scene. You try interviewing someone when they just ran into a window face first.
Biker smashes through back window of car
I see you didn't address my comment acelin....
Biker smashes through back window of car
So who pays for the car repair? Does insurance cover something like this?
Biker smashes through back window of car
Abita- so the students who slammed on the brakes would look less bad, not the newspaper.
Biker smashes through back window of car
Worse. Nothing is less bad. It's worse than something else. That’s not a nuance of the English language. It’s chapter 3 in Hooked on Phonics. Secondly, the passenger had enough time to get into the car. Unless he dove into it Indiana Jones style and then the driver slammed on his breaks, the car must have been stopped for a reasonable amount of time. Again, the bike rider admitted in FFA he wasn't paying attention. The kids in the car don't have to try very hard to look innocent here.
Biker smashes through back window of car
Arguing on the internet: Pass Go. Believing an anonymous post on FFA: Priceless.
Biker smashes through back window of car
I'm with HPower6, acelin seems to know way more than the story tells us and he/she seems to be very defensive. Acelin (probably Mr. Cirocco) clearly feels he wasn't properly represented in this article. Why don't you just write to the editorials and tell us all what really happened? In my opinion acelin, sh*t happens, and whether the car stopped abruptly or not, it is the biker's responsibility to keep a safe enough distance to be able to stop as well.
Biker smashes through back window of car
I don't think anyone here is really considering how unimportant this really is. He hit a car, end of story. It doesn't matter who is responsible or why it happened, the kid got hurt for god's sake, everyone saw the picture. Isn't it enough to know he is okay?
Biker smashes through back window of car
Update: This is not Cirroco. He is doing very well if you want to know.
Biker smashes through back window of car
Accidents happen every day, get over it. Why doesn't the Kansan report on every fender bender in town? Because they usually don't involve blood. It sounds like it was a slow news day and they needed a photo for the front page. If he had be seriously injured, this would have been newsworth. Really low brow.
Biker smashes through back window of car
Hey there - can you read? it says stopped temporarily. The car was traveling at consistent speed and stopped dead in its tracks. How on earth is everyone else supposed to know that he is stopping "for about 5 seconds" to dopr someone off. Are biker riders supposed to be mind readers as well now. The driver of the car shouls have received a ticket for impeding traffic.
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