One bicyclist was killed and another slightly hurt in an early morning accident on Peach Orchard Road, according to Richmond County dispatch.
The bicyclists were struck by an SUV in the 3700 block of Peach Orchard Road in front of Savin Haven around 3 a.m.
Deputy Coroner Johnny McDonald identified the dead man as David Michael Laughinghouse, 34, of Peach Orchard Road.
Laughinghouse and his stepbrother were traveling south on Peach Orchard Road when an SUV, also traveling south on the inside struck the pair, McDonald said.
The brother, identified as Richard Eubanks, was taken to the hospital but has since been released, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Bowen.
"Evidence at the scene suggests they were in the roadway," he said.
Authorities said it was raining at the time of the accident and the bicyclists did not have any lights on their bikes.
The SUV was described as a 2001 Chevrolet SUV. Maj. Richard Weaver identified the driver of the SUV that struck the cyclists as 37-year-old Linda Elliott of Sardis.
No charges are expected to be filed against the driver, Weaver said.
An autopsy will be conducted later today to determine if Laughinghouse had any drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the accident.
Comments to follow about how they deserved to be struck because they were riding bikes on a road meant for cars.........My prayers to the victim and family, however riding in the rain at 3 am may not have been the wisest decision.
Riding at night in the rain without lights? But that aside, I'm going to point out the obvious and it hurts to do it since I personally know a cyclist recently injured badly.
We have to separate cyclists from motorists. We have to build new bike paths and limit cyclists to these safe routes. That's going to cost lots of money and can't be done overnight so in the meantime, let's periodically close certain roads to motorists. On Saturday have certain roads popular with cyclists closed to all except bikes. Vehicles breaking the ordinance on the cyclists only road should be fined and bikers riding on other roads should be fined. Something has to be done.
This is sad and completely avoidable.
I just wonder if everyone is going to want the driver of the SUV to spend years in jail, like they did Mr. Wise.
Cary, contrary to your belief, I'm not going to say that this cyclist "DESERVED to be struck". However I do believe it could've easily been avoided. We all need to be more proactive with our safety and the safety of our loved ones, take whatever precautions you can. If you're going to walk/ride on or near a roadway wear reflective cloting, carry a light, if you're riding wear a helmet...etc.
Why would they be riding in the middle of the street at 3 a.m.? Not saying they were asking for it, but what do you expect with no lights or other gear. Hope they catch the driver none the less. Very sad.
Oh yes I agree; let's spend taxpayer money to construct bike lanes for those without the intelligence to stay out of the middle of the road in the pouring rain without safety gear or lights in pitch black dark.
I suspect that these fellows weren't Lycra-clad, carbon-frame-riding cyclists like me & my pals, but that they were relying on their bikes as do much of the Third World... basic, no-other-choice transportation.
I see riders like these in my travels... no lights or reflectors, dark clothing... usually work clothes... never a helmet. Many ride on the wrong side of the road... against traffic... and ignore stop signs and signals. It's not a matter of contempt, they honestly just don't know any better.
These are the folks that we need to reach when we talk about bicycle safety. I'd like to see two things happen: First, registration of bikes that get used on public roadways. That would insure that some basic safety and compliance regulations are being met. Plus, those of us who do ride on public roadways could point to the tag or decal on our bikes and say "look, we have a right to be here, same as you." Second, I'd like to see some sort of bicycle rider's license, indicating that the bearer has taken a course, passed a test, and understands that ALL of the traffic laws apply to cyclists. For those of us with driving licenses, it could be an endorsement, akin to what one gets after passing a motorcycle test.
Maybe then, a tragedy such as this wouldn't be tacitly blamed on the victim.
From WRDW website:
"Investigators also say they think the men bought beer at a convenience store near the site of the accident."
"The brothers were riding in the left lane, heading south on Peach Orchard Road"
"Deputy Coroner Bowen says a toxicology test will be done, because alcohol is believed to be involved."
"Deputies say no charges have been filed against the driver, who was heading south on Peach Orchard Road. Deputies say evidence indicates she was not drinking."
Okay, okay. So two guys run out of beer at 2:45 in the morning, ride their bikes to the Savin Haven, load up on beer, and start back home at 3:00 A.M., carrying beer, in the rain, with no lights or reflectors, riding in the left hand lane, on a major U.S. highway, and get hit by a sober driver.
It's a shame that one of them died but my sympathy meter just didn't get much of a bump out of this. Maybe a little for the relatives. But this certainly did NOT have anything to do with previous discussions of bicycle enthusiasts riding on public roads and inattentive or hostile drivers. This one gets filed under the Darwin Awards category.
I read repeatedly in articles that report automobile-bicycle accidents that bikes should not be on the road. Well, do some research and you'll find that roads were first paved to accommodate bikes before automobiles even took to the roads. So bicycles have just as much (more even) right to be on the road.
Hey, horses were on the roads before bikes. I say let people ride them up and down the highway and forget about the white lines. Horses don't need no stinkin lines.
qtinbell, you said the roads were paved to accommodate bicycles. That was pretty silly. I simply pointed out the roads were built for horses before bikes. You don't think they have rights? There are lots of riders around here. But we could take it even further and say the first roads were actually for those hiking. So there we go back to... do you have the right to walk in the road?
Adjacent to Evans to Lock Rd there is a bike path. Not all bikers use it, but many do. Also, horseriders use it now and then. I've seen them meet each other and the bike riders would respectfully (or out of fear) move to the side and let the horses pass. Maybe there's a lesson in that.
Riverman, the issue was bikes and cars. Not horses or even dinosaurs. Bikes can lawfully ride on the roads. Many have said they don't belong on the roads; I was making the point that they were there first. When horse riders get in confrontation with cars on the streets of Augusta, then we'll talk about them. And, the answer is no, pedestrians cannot impede the progress of a car that can travel nowhere else but the roads. That's why we have jaywalking laws and crosswalks. Are there any other irrelevant points you want to bring up?
Hiking? Of course citizens can hike. But, like bikes, they can't impede traffic.
There is a difference between "cyclists" and people who ride bikes. I think these two guys were riding their bikes to the store. I'm sorry for the lady who hit them; it must be a real nightmare for her.
qtinbell, you covered it well. No disagreement from me. I was simply pointing out your remarks about the roads originally being paved for bikes were about as relevant as mine were about horses. But that's okay, we all say things like that sometime.
Off the subject a little but what hospital were they taken to? The Dr. Azziz regional trauma center close to Laney-Walker Blvd? Georgia Health Sciences University Hospital: poot!
There is no Savin Haven on Peach Orchard Rd. There is a Bob's One Stop on the 3700 block of Peach Orchard Rd. The Chronicle Staff is not very familiar with south Augusta.
Lily's Mom, please read the entire article. They aren't looking for the driver. She is the one who called it in. She was the one devastated because this happened. She was the one driving legally down the road when two men on bikes were travelling in the left hand lane on a major highway with their beer at 3:00 in the morning. She is the one dealing with the aftermath of this accident that was unavoidable only on HER part. The part of the deceased and the injured was completely AVOIDABLE.
QTINBELL, the bikes may have been riding on that stretch of the road "first"---but the driver was headed down that stretch of the road legally, with lights, without alcohol. Laws for safety are for everyone on the road. If you really think that the Bike being there first is a valid arguement, lets load up I-20 in front of you with intermittent cyclists and see if you still think it is a good idea.
sx4bobby, that came from the police report. We will check with them to see if a correction is needed.
Cyclists are being killed on both sides of the river. The only cure is a bike lane on all roads. However, that is cost prohibitive, and would mean that taxes would have to raised to fund the widening of the roads.
Sean Moores, that store originally opened as a Savin Haven several years ago. It went out of business, and stayed closed for quite sometime. It finally re-opened as Bob's One Stop, and is currently doing business under that name (and has been for a few years now). I have lived in this area for over 35 years, and I am very familiar with my community. A few weeks ago, The Chronicle reported a robbery at the Super Express on Peach Orchard Rd. The Super Express is a convenience store/gas station. The Chronicle reported the correct name of the business, however they reported it as being a motel, instead of a covenience store. I caught the error immediately, because I live in this area.
Well guess what bobby. All you have to do if you see an error is email the reporter and they will check it out and make corrections. I sent an email to Donnie Fetter about a small error in the story about the shooting of a middle school student. Within 10 minutes he had corrected it.
Like the guy last week who had his bike stolen in the early AM, ironic that maybe they decided not to drive under the influence, if he/they were drinking b4 the accident.
OTH, typical reactions calling for more govt regulation and intervention. You can't protect everyone from themselves.
If you want bike paths and lanes, band together, have fund raisers and contribute to the cost with your own money, not mine. There are many other pressing problems facing our tax funded, red ink stained govt's.
Find a guy with a pickup, load up your bikes and go off the busy city streets and highways. The canal, state parks, anywhere but where you cause another distraction and hazard to traffic and yourselves.
According to Georgia Law, bicycles are considered vehicles, thus allowed to be on roadways, and no need for additional bike paths as a knee-jerk reaction to an accident. With that being said, just like any other vehicle, the operator has certain repsonsibilities and laws they must obey. If you are going to be riding on the road, you need to have a light and a helmet. If a car was driving down the road with no headlights on, and was involved in an accident, it would be that operators fault, same here, there is no difference.
Mybabiesgoddess, who would ride a bike on I-20? Mopeds and scooters aren't even allowed on highways. I failed to understand your point.
The fact of the matter is that everywhere else in the US and the WORLD can accommodate cyclists sharing the road with autos. I know because I've ridden in numerous countries and throughout the US. Never had a problem until I come to Augusta where people drive like I don't belong on the road. And to think that Tour de Georgia, which Lance Armstrong participated in, comes through Augusta. Maybe the promoters should call it off if you don't want cyclist there. The tour doesn't use bike paths.
I concur that legal riding and proper gear is paramount when bikes share the road. But they have a right to be there just as the cars. Still can't get my head around why Augusta, unlike most other places, is struggling with this issue and feel that riding paths are the only option.
Never said a word about the riding paths...only that a lot of conversation is being had about a cyclists right to be on the road. Those riding on tours through Augusta, or the state of Georgia, in France, or anywhere else probably knew that to be safe, they get out of the way of traffic, don't cause traffic jams, and have enough sense not to wear black, ride in the fast lane, at night, without proper equipment. All factors work together. If a car gets rear ended, the survival rate is considerably higher than one on a bike. They cannot maintain highway speed, cars get pulled over for driving too slow for impeding traffic. Slower traffic moves to the right on a multilane highway, and a driver of a motorized vehicle should be able to drive down the highway without the risk of coming up on a bicycle in the middle of the fast lane on a four lane road. It cost one bike rider his life, his brother the loss of a sibling as well as the trauma of witnessing it; but the driver of the car has to live with that memory the rest of her life. No matter what is rolling down the road, it should be safe, have to maintain the same rules as anyone else on the road. The traffic laws aren't just for cars, it is for pedestrians, and riders of all types. To argue the point that the bike had rights to be on the road, I feel is ludacris. Put too many of them on ANY highway and you will have many more accidents just like this. I would hate to have been the one riding down the road in the rain, at 3:00 a.m., in poor road conditions, to suddenly have a human in my windshield, finally coming to rest on the top of my suburban. And yes, I would have felt as much sympathy for him if he had run over the passenger car and killed the driver with his Schwinn.
I give up! You continue to talk about cycling on highways, which is not a likely scenario since they are off limits to cyclists.
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