Hit and Run Driver Kills 14 Year Old Bicyclist

MIAMI GARDENS– A 14-year-old boy was killed Saturday evening near the intersection of Northwest 199 Street and 27th Avenue when he was struck by a red pickup truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

As reported by the Sun Sentinel, The driver of the truck fled the scene after the 10 p.m. collision. Investigators ask that anyone with information about the incident or the suspect vehicle call the FHP at 305-475-2500 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

N.W. 199th Street and 27th Ave is a heavily traveled intersection, and hopefully someone will have information as to the hit and run driver.

A few days earlier I discussed the dangers of Intersection collisions, which are especially dangerous on a Saturday evening. These dangers are further compounded if the cyclist did not have proper lighting equipment on his bicycle.

Bright clothes make you easier to spot in the daytime but they are useless at night. Riding without lights in the dark is a very dangerous mistake. About thirty percent of Miami bicycle accidents occur at night ,although only about four percent of cycling is done then. The reflectors that come with new bikes are grossly inadequate for nighttime safety. Always use a headlight and taillight when you ride in the dark. If you are caught by darkness without lights don’t try to sneak home on the sidewalk. Walk your bike home or call for a ride.

If I were to speculate what happened, given the young age of the rider, I wold guess he was not an experienced cyclist, and thus did not have the proper lighting on his bicycle. Of course, this does not account for the drivers actions after the accident-running from the scene-after hitting a child.

The young boy was probably riding his bicycle on the sidewalk as he approached the intersection. Riding bikes on sidewalks can be dangerous. First, there is a greater chance of minor collisions with cyclists and pedestrians due to poorer visibility and restricted room and also a greater chance of falling down. However, the likelihood of a collision with a motor vehicle also increases. These accidents occur at intersections and driveways, the former more deadly. Unwilling to dismount and often unwilling to wait for the light, the bike rider starts across the intersection parallel to the main road, completely hidden from a turning motorist until the last second, when it’s often too late for the motorist to stop. A study of these risks was made in 1994 and showed that sidewalk cycling is almost twice as dangerous as cycling in the street, and cycling against the traffic on the sidewalk is over four times as dangerous as cycling in the street.

Again, I have no facts to substantiate the way the accident actually happened, I am only speculating based upon my experiences as an avid cyclist and Miami Personal Injury lawyer.