Cyclist gets irate with officers after crash

Police officers investigate a collision between a passenger car and a bicycle on Little Valley Road, St. George, Utah, April 2, 2015 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Officers had to threaten an upset bicyclist with arrest Thursday afternoon to get him to calm down after the man was involved in a collision at the intersection of 3580 South and Little Valley Road in St. George.

Just before 4 p.m., the man was riding his bicycle southbound on a sidewalk, traveling opposite of traffic flow, on Little Valley Road, St. George Police Sgt. Rich Triplett said.

A woman driving a black passenger car had stopped at a stop sign on 3580 South and then proceeded forward after checking that the road was clear. However, the man on the bike left the sidewalk and illegally crossed in front of her, and she struck him with her vehicle, Triplett said.

St. George Police officers investigate a collision between a bicycle and a passenger car, St. George, Utah, April 2, 2015 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News
St. George Police officers investigate a collision between a bicycle and a passenger car, St. George, Utah, April 2, 2015 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

After the incident, the man demanded that 911 not be called. When officers arrived at the scene, he became irate and began yelling and swearing at them. The officers threatened to take him to jail if he didn’t calm down.

The man complained of leg pain after the collision but refused medical treatment, Triplett said.

The man was cited for riding his bicycle on the wrong side of the road and for riding his bicycle on the sidewalk.

“Bikes have to operate like vehicles do,” Triplett said. “They have to be operated on the road just like a car.”

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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9 Comments

  • Car4sale April 3, 2015 at 12:08 am

    Oh my good thing it wasn’t a black bicyclist and had to be arrested by a white cop for not cooperating while President Obama is in the state of Utah. Can you imagine the headlines..

    • laytonian April 3, 2015 at 9:50 am

      You race-baiters can’t be stopped, can you?

  • San April 3, 2015 at 9:20 am

    A lot of people get combative when injured and terrified at the same time. It sounds like the police handled him with compassion and concern. I wonder if the guy is okay this morning. Even though he refused attention it sounds like the officers were concerned about shock and injuries. This didn’t escalate into something unreasonable, as it would have in other communities (such as Los Angeles) …from the cheap seats that should be noted too.

  • Lynn Howell April 3, 2015 at 9:22 am

    The officers and the motorist really ought to know better.
    Everyone knows that people riding bicycles ALWAYS have the right-of-way, and NEVER do anything wrong.
    At least that the perspective of far too many of them …

    • Car4sale April 3, 2015 at 12:40 pm

      And people in cars think they always have the right of way and never do anything wrong. At least that the perspective of far too many of them….

  • fred_wilson April 3, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Actually according to utah statute 41-6a-1702, its legal to ride a bike on the sidewalk

    • shoalcreek5 April 3, 2015 at 8:40 pm

      Yes, but 41-6a-1106 says that local ordinances can restrict riding on sidewalks and on crosswalks, which then subjects bicycles to the same basic traffic rules as cars.

      It also says that if local ordinances don’t restrict riding on sidewalks/crosswalks, that, if one is riding on the sidewalk, one must conform to the same rules as a regular pedestrian (e.g. stopping and waiting for traffic to be clear before using the crosswalk, etc.).

  • fun bag April 3, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    Mostly idiotic drivers in this town whether on bike or in a car. Everyone’s got there head up their ***. Welcome to Utardia.

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