Authorities say the teen boy was with a group of friends riding their bikes when they attempted to cross the intersection. The victim was leading the group when he was struck by a vehicle. However, police say
The boy was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities say he is still fighting but is in “grave and critical condition.”
“It’s a very tragic time for the family. It’s very unfortunate and very sad,” said Officer Moroni Mendez. “Our detectives are going to investigate every avenue, every possibility. Anything they can do to bring justice to this family.”
“As we always say in law enforcement, if you see something say something. So that’s ultimately what we need to solve this case to figure out who committed this act,” said Mendez.
“I think attitudes and education is actually more important than infrastructure,” he said. “Around the world you see varying attitudes towards that and I was kind of hoping that things in Australia were improving, but evidently not… so of course the [Melbourne hit-and-runs] are really disappointing in that regard.”
The 46o won the Tour while riding for BMC Racing Team, said he did not want people to be put off cycling because of fear caused by “people’s bad attitudes”. He also explained how he always felt safer cycling in Europe due to drivers’ awareness and better attitudes towards cyclists
During the interview he suggested that Australian drivers “lack awareness and concentration” and have “bad attitudes” towards cyclists, and that building more cycling infrastructure is just one part of the puzzle with “more education about cyclists’ rights to use the roads and longer, more comprehensive driver training” needed
A 51-yclist, remains in hospital with three spinal fractures, while the other cyclist was hospitalised with a fractured spine and a broken foot. Mr Gibson’s co-worker said it could have been an “absolute tragedy” and learning that the collision was deliberate “accentuates the impact it has on everyone”.
The local cycling community has expressed disgust at the incidents, Edward Hore the Australian Cycling Alliance’s president calling the sharing of footage online as cowardly.
“I was shocked … it’s just really upsetting that people would go out of their way to harm someone like that, someone going about their business,” local cyclist Karen Gittins added.
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