- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department vehicle (licensed CC BY SA 2.0 on Flickr by Tomas Del Coro)Minivan passenger in Las Vegas killed as he pushed cyclist to her death
A minivan passenger in Las Vegas who pushed a cyclist from her bike, killing her, was himself killed after he fell out of the vehicle.
The incident happened at around 7.30am yesterday morning in the east of the city in Nevada, reports the Review Journal.
According to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Police Department, witnesses described how the driver of the minivan appeared to have been racing with other vehicles.
The passenger was said to have stuck his body out of the vehicle and attempted to strike a couple walking on the sidewalk.
One of them described how he heard the engine “rev up,” adding that he and his wife were able to get out of the way.
The occupant of the minivan then pushed a cyclist from her bike. The rider, a woman aged in her mid-50s, died at the scene of injuries sustained when she fell.
Meanwhile, in pushing the woman, the minivan’s passenger fell out of the vehicle and slid along the road surface for around 150 feet before his head struck a lamppost, killing him.
Homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer said: “Senseless is an understatement.
“There’s no reason behind, that I can tell you, as to why it occurred – other than complete stupidity.”
Homicide detectives were called to the scene by crash investigators who had interviewed witnesses, he explained.
“What has made this a homicide investigation is the intentional act of him sticking his body out the window, striking the bicyclist and killing her.”
The driver of the minivan – like the passenger, a male aged between 18-22 years – fled the scene and is being sought by police.
He could potentially face a murder charge, with Lt Spencer saying that he deliberately drove the vehicle close to both the pair of pedestrians and the woman who had been cycling.
Officers are continuing their investigation.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- slc 5 sec ago
Ok, let me have another go at articulating this. Sometimes it is the location and volume of traffic that is dangerous, rather than what we usually...
- grOg 2 hours 18 min ago
Where does it state in the article that Ashley purchased the stock? it does state that Ashley bought the brand and intellectual property, not the...
- rogerwb 4 hours 58 min ago
Jump off the bike and run across. I cycle in trainers though.
- momove 6 hours 1 min ago
Cheers for the lesson! Wasn't expecting one so was pleasantly surprised, especially getting to find the origin of "laconic"!
- ktache 6 hours 48 min ago
Isn't it a rights issue?
- AidanR 7 hours 38 min ago
Same here - it took me by surprise. 10:30am doesn't feel like a dangerous time to cycle; apparently I'm wrong on that.
- Daddy Feebs 7 hours 51 min ago
If anything, it looks a bit like an SL6
- wtjs 8 hours 27 min ago
Other commenters have different views True!
- Daclu Trelub 8 hours 42 min ago
Incredibly bone-headed.
Add new comment
14 comments
This week's nomination for a Darwin Award
Home of the brave......
Are we allowed to say something like "You reap what you sow" on this one?
Instant karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead - John Lennon
How can this poor woman's family ever come to terms with their loved one dying because of someone's prank. I hope the net is closing on the driver, so at least there can be some due process of justice.
The driver has now been arrested and is potentially facing a murder charge.
In the uk would this even get a careless driving charge for the driver. Guess its a somewhat mute point as they'd be unlikely to even be able to identify the driver.
Probably not, although it can and should be chased. If you have passed close enough to someone on a bike for a passenger to assault them you are clearly endangering them in any case
The identification of the driver is moot as the keeper of the vehicle is (supposedly) legally required to identify them
I think in the UK this would count as Joint Enterprise / Common Purpose. If the driver and passenger have acted together with a common plan, then they are both guilty of the same crime (in the UK manslaughter might be more likely than murder).
In the UK the police probably wouldn't have bothered investigating until the incident got significant media coverage.
Thoughts out to the cyclist and family, but it's only gene pool cleansing to the minivan passenger.
What a incredibly sad way for the woman to die ;-(
Stupid driver and passenger "Senseless is an understatement."
If only he'd missed her then fallen out of the vehicle....
If only he'd not done it in the first place, there'd be two people still alive.
Much too kind to call them "stupid"
I expect this is NOT their 1st malicious attack on vulnerable groups not protected by being inside a car or truck.
Therefore, calling these murderous thugs: SADISTIC ANTI-CYLIST COWARDICE MONSTERS, is more fitting.