Bakkie crashes into cyclists training for Argus Giro, killing 4 in horrific accident

[DAOTEC]

Johannesburg - 'A fourth cyclist died in hospital today'

Former Springbok time trialist Jan Eloff, retired police commander Frank Nel and estate agent Magda van Lill were killed when a bakkie smashed into their group riding on the R62 near the Western Cape town of Oudtshoorn shortly after 6am. Two men and a woman died on the scene when a bakkie drove into the group of 11 cyclists. More...http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article344791.ece
The trio were training for Sunday's Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour from 9/12 March 2010.

© Reuters

Johannesburg today- A fourth cyclist died in hospital after a bakkie drove into a group of cyclists near Oudtshoorn on Monday, a spokesperson said.
More...http://www.news24.com/Content/South...-05-02/Four_killed_as_they_practice_for_Argus

What a world we live in.
The Cape Argus [Giro del Capo] went on today with stage 1 won by a former Gerolsteiner rider the Austrian Rene Haselbacher > http://www.cyclingnews.co.za/Pages/...ins Giro 1st stage&FeatureID=3723&SectionID=2

There are stil a lot of Motorists out there who "don't give a damn" about cyclists © DoesAnybodyOutThereEvenCare

 

[BroDeal]

Sad.

What the hell is a 'bakkie'?

 

[Publicus]

I had to look it up. It's a small pickup truck or van.

 

[Big GMaC]

Sad.

What the hell is a 'bakkie'?

It is like a sedan with a flat bed at the back, terrible accident for those involved.

 

[BikeCentric]

Sad.

Little respect is given to Cyclists in a World of cars.

RIP riders; may your families find strength in the difficult days ahead.

 

[progressor]

F**k

 

[B.Rasmussen]

Horrible news.

RIP

 

[BroDeal]

How does someone drive into a group of eleven cyclists?? The driver had to be as drunk as a Kennedy.

Maybe he will say he was reaching for his cell phone and will be given a small fine.

 

[bianchigirl]

When will this kind of appalling sh*te end?

 

[BikeCentric]

When will this kind of appalling sh*te end?

Read the comments given to that article DAOTEC linked.

Don't expect it to end anytime soon.

 

[unsheath]

I had to look it up. It's a small pickup truck or van.

Thought they misspelled Bikkie. Looks like a Bakkie is the equivalent of a ute in Oz.

Sad Day indeed. RIP

 

[Boeing]

this just sucks. and you are right it will never end

locally here there a young rider was killed by a retired sheriff making an illegal left turn clearly posted. not tested either

Kid and family lose life. Alleged driver gets small fine, an escort home and a letter of condolence from the police department saying they understand his trauma.

RIP

 

[craig1985]

Read the comments given to that article DAOTEC linked.

Don't expect it to end anytime soon.

From the first comment (by some person called 'bart') that he's a cyclist as well. Sadly there are quite few cyclists that have met their untimely end at the wheel of a motorist. But I wasn't there when it happened, or been to South Africa, so I'm not sure what is the case.

 

[DAOTEC]

More horror at Cape Argus ...

the recent cycle-related horrors on the Cape's roads continued on Friday.

March 12 2010 at 09:53AM |breaking news flash iol.co.za.

As the country's cyclists wait eagerly for the start of the world's largest timed race, the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, on Sunday, the recent cycle-related horrors on the Cape's roads continued on Friday.

Two cyclists were knocked down in Hermanus by an allegedly drunk driver in a Bakkie.

The pair are reportedly alive with live threatening injuries being taken to a local hospital.

Hope for LA he isn't riding today

 

[Wailing Floating Head]

The comments on the article are definitely interesting, not 100% sure what they represent. It definitely said the collision was head on, so the way I see it somebody fudged up BAD.

 

[Anonymous]

One commentor wrote:
"Cyclists are road hogs, they need to wake the hell up and lose the arrogance on our roads."

Hhhmm?? The words "OUR roads" struck me as idiotic. But that's the general belief of motorists in the US as well. Apparently when you get a license "those" people forget that driving is a privilege, not a right. And NO, you don't OWN the friggin' roads.

This is actually why I'd be for licensing cyclists. Sure it would suck having to pay a fee just to ride your bike but then we can tell drivers that we pay for the same gawd-d@mn roads you pay for!! (even though I do anyway since I own a car and pay taxes in general!)

Ignorant statements like that just kill me! Last I checked these are "PUBLIC" roads and cyclists can get moving violations tickets just like those in cars. So **** off!