A California bicyclist was severely injured in the aftermath of a two-car collision in a Fountain Valley intersection Wednesday. The cyclist was reportedly stopped at a traffic light waiting for the lights to change when two sports utility vehicles collided in the intersection. Police believe one of the SUVs veered off from the initial accident, drove off the roadway and was involved in the secondary bicycle accident.
The 29-year-old Huntington Beach cyclist sustained severe personal injuries that authorities say are not life-threatening. Paramedics responded to the scene and took the biker to an area hospital. The chain-reaction crash occurred during the broad daylight at roughly 2:30 p.m.
Police opened up an investigation into the cause of the initial car accident between the two SUVs. Authorities do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash, but other details surrounding the wreck remain sketchy. No arrests or citations have been reported in relation to the incident. News reports do not indicate whether either of the drivers in the SUVs sustained any injuries.
Not all bike accidents occur while the bicycle is involved in the flow of traffic. The Huntington Beach cyclist was reportedly waiting patiently for the traffic lights to change when he was struck down after two other drivers crashed.
San Francisco personal injury attorneys know that car accidents can happen in an instant. News reports do not indicate whether the cyclist even saw the SUV careen off the initial impact and come toward him.
Someone stopped at a stoplight near an intersection would have little time to react to such a situation. Generally,debris might erupt from the vehicles involved in an intersection accident, but also it is hard to imagine the terrifying experience of seeing an SUV change direction on impact and bear down on a bystander.
Source: The Orange County Register, “SUVs collide, unlucky bicyclist injured,” Sean Emery, Jan. 11, 2012
