BikeWalkKC says police description of cyclist accident borders on ‘victim blaming’
A Kansas City organization said the police’s description of a crash involving a bike and a vehicle that left a cyclist with life-threatening injuries borders on “victim-blaming.”
Pablo Sanders, who is active in the biking community, was injured in the Christmas Eve crash, according to BikeWalkKC.
The Kansas City Police Department said the cyclist suffered life-threatening head injuries when he was struck at the intersection of Southwest Trafficway and Valentine Road.
The collision occurred as a Buick traveling north on Southwest Trafficway proceeded through a green light at Valentine. A man wearing dark clothing was riding east to west through the intersection, the police department said. The Buick tried to avoid the cyclist, but struck the bike.
The cyclist was wearing a helmet, but the straps were not property secured, causing the helmet to come off in the collision.
The driver remained at the scene and alcohol was not a factor, said Sgt. Jacob Becchina, a spokesman for KCPD.
No citations have been issued at this point.
“I’m concerned this framing of the crash is verging on victim-blaming,” said Liz Harris, spokeswoman for BikeWalkKC. “The circumstances as we understand them could have resulted in this serious injury even if Pablo was doing everything 100% ‘right’ at this time.”
Harris said the intersection at Southwest Trafficway and Valentine Road is especially problematic because the traffic signal doesn’t consistently detect bicycles and the green light doesn’t last long enough to cross the road before turning red.
Thirteen pedestrians or cyclists have been killed on Kansas City’s roads this year, according to BikeWalkKC.
The organization would like to see the city invest in protected bike lanes and public policies that slow traffic down, Harris said.
