Bicyclist attacked by angry driver
Updated: Friday, 03 Apr 2009, 7:51 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 03 Apr 2009, 7:51 AM EDT
NEW CASTLE, Ind. (AP) - Police say a motorist bit off a chunk of a man’s ear after the man complained about the motorist’s speeding.
Thirty-one-year-old Jeffrey H. Guffey told police he was riding a bicycle Wednesday when he shouted at the driver of a sport-utility vehicle that was speeding down a residential street.
Guffey told police the driver pulled over, got out, knocked him to the ground and began biting his ear, spitting out the pieces.
New Castle Police Chief James Nicholson said “a good chunk” of Guffey’s left ear was torn off. Guffey was treated at a hospital.
Police charged the driver, 43-year-old Curtis A. Cross, with battery. He is being held in the Henry County Jail. It could not immediately be determined if Cross had an attorney.
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I had a guy in an SUV yell at me for coming to a near stop at a red light, checking to make sure there was no chance of me being in anyones way, and then rolling through.
he yelled “Follow the rules of the road buddy!”
I looked at him with a “why in the world are you upset?” expression
he then later drove up along side me to yell some more
and I gave him a friendly wave.
I am happy that our encounter did not result in any ear biting.
But I am afraid his actions have not caused me to re-evaluate my red light behavior.
I hope you do reevaluate your behavior. How can we as cyclists expect to be respected as shared users of the road until we respect the laws in place to govern said roads?
I don’t break the laws of the road any more egregiously on a bike than I do in a car.
In both cases I am careful to be sure I am putting nobody in danger or inconvenience. Running a red when nobody is around is a law I am happy to break just as driving 5mph over the speedlimit, or crossing a double yellow in certain situations is.
In fact my decisions to violate the law at red lights is usually largely in an effort to protect myself and to be sure I do not hold up traffic. (though truthfully sometimes it is just so I don’t sit still for no good reason)
I don’t expect to have any impact on how much respect I will receive from drivers any way, and never count on that respect. I assume they are trying to kill me at all times.
I’m not big on law =)
I hope you do reevaluate your behavior. How can we as cyclists expect to be respected as shared users of the road until we respect the laws in place to govern said roads?
that’s really horrible. it shows you just how angry (some) people are these days. i cannot imagine what the guy will go through with his ear. and how badly that hurt.
I think there may be a lot of gray area for bikes still.
At least a few years ago in my state, a motorcycle could proceed through a redlight after coming to a stop first. I a bicycle treated like a car, or a motorcycle?
Either way, it may be better to blend in and not draw attention to yourself
