Drunken driver collides into bicycle race, killing one cyclist and injuring 10 others

by Pat Garcia | June 3, 2008 at 09:31 pm
3221 views | 8 Recommendations | 5 comments

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Conductor borracho atropella ciclistas en Mexico

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Conductor borracho atropella ciclistas en Mexico

Photos

Drunken driver collides into bicicle race, killing one cyclist and injuring 10 others

Drunken driver collides into bicicle race, killing one cyclist and injuring 10 others

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uploaded by Pat Garcia

Capta fotógrafo por instinto imagen de accidente de ciclistas

Justo
cuando José Fidelino Vera Hernández accionó el disparador de su cámara
Nikon D 70, fue cuando Juan Campos arrolló con su vehículo a los
deportistas

A car driven by an alleged drunken driver plowed into a bicycle race along a highway near the U.S.-Mexico border Sunday, killing one cyclist and injuring 10 others.

Juan Campos was apparently drunk and had fallen asleep at the wheel before crashing into the race in Monterrey, Mexico, police investigator Jose Alfredo Rodriguez said.

A photograph taken by a city official shows the horrifying moment of impact. The force of the collision sent bicyclists and equipment high into the air and Matamoros newspaper El Mañana described children crying, women shouting for help and men trying to lynch Campos before police arrived to arrest him.

Killed in the crash was Alejandro Alvarez, 37, of Monterrey.

Campos told police he was an American citizen from Brownsville, Texas. The U.S. consulate could not immediately confirm that.

"We are looking into the incident in terms of whether American citizens were involved,'' consulate spokesman Todd Huizinga told the Associated Press.

The crash happened 15 minutes into the race along a highway between Playa Bagdad and Matamoros, authorities said.

A total of 452 cyclists were participating in the 21-mile race, which was canceled after the incident.


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everchanging
everchanging
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 22:03 on June 3rd, 2008

patgarcia, One of bicyclist worst fear. Sad. 

In the photo's and video on the right side of frame, there is a pace car or seems to be one. Does any one know if this car moved out of the way, of the car that hit, killed and injured the bicyclist coming at them. I am aware that the driver was a sleep but not aware of this other car in this event until I saw the images.

0
Pat Garcia

everchanging. Thanks for the flag and the videos! I was having trouble uploading the
pictures. Thanks again for your help. The interviews to witnesses in
Mexican papers mention that it seemed like he actually targeted the
cyclists on purpose. I will look for the car you mention, I haven't
seen it. This is so tragic, it is not the first time it happens in
Mexico we lost one of our Olympic medalist in an accident like this one.

0
everchanging

you're welcome. I also had difficult uploading images. About the other car - look at the video of the car hitting the bicyclist and stop it once it pans out - then look to the right of the frame and it looks either like pace car or police. I will never understand why these people think they are able to drive during or after drinking. 

Last summer I got to watch a mini-van going in the wrong direction at night on a one way street  without any lights on and hit a truck head on waiting for a light while in the right direction - Yes the mini-van driver had been drinking. Thank goodness for airbags - the truck driver & passenger had minor injuries. POint is driving and drinking does not save lives - I have yet to hear of a drunk driver saving a life after hit an object of any kind where life is involved.

phoenixesrose
phoenixesrose
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 23:20 on June 3rd, 2008

patgarcia, I'm sorry to hear that this happened, and my heart goes out to the athletes involved and their familes.

If the guy was drunk, maybe they should have let the crowd lynch the guy - I hate to say it, but drinking and driving is stupid - and if you do - and you kill someone (or in this case - maybe more than one) maybe you should lose your right too.

0
Beaulieu

In the UK the Government publish some 'Don't Drink & Drive posters' but where do you see those in pubs, off Licences and hotels? Funny that. I think drinking establishments need to do more too. There ought to be a law where they HAVE to put a sign up and leaflets to make people more aware, even at the expense of their business.

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everchanging
First Flagged at 10:03 PM, Jun 3, 2008 by everchanging
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