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Friday, 08 August 2008

Driver from 50-bicycle smash speaks: 'It wasn't my fault'

9/05/2008 5:07:00 PM.  | Anil Lambert-Patel

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The driver involved in yesterday's 50-cyclist accident on Southern Cross Drive has called 2GB's Ray Hadley to explain his side of the story.

'Jason' called in to say the accident wasn't his fault and that the group of cyclists was trying to overtake him when a number of them smashed into his car.

He says a mechanical problem caused his sudden stop - his car had just been converted to dual-fuel and a gas misfire meant he had to pull over.

“I stopped, full-stopped. I had to because I put it in park to switch it to petrol to try to get it to start – it wouldn’t start on gas,” he explained

“So that was a good 20-seconds and then – like I said – some rode past me.”

He says he was intimidated by threats and abuse from the group, which is why he failed to stop or get out of his vehicle.

But Olympic cyclist Ben Kersten, who was also on the line on the Ray Hadley Show, was furious with the explanation.

"Mate, you're a lying dog," he told 'Jason'.

"Everything you just said is complete and utter bull. I can't believe you have the nerve to ring up and try to say this.

"I was there and I saw it all. You're a liar. We've got 50 witnesses to confirm that everything you've said is complete bull."

But 'Jason' was having none of it.

"You drove into the back of me and I'm the goose?" he asked.

"My car stalled... It's not my fault you weren't looking where you were going."

Police say no charges have been laid, and investigations into the crash are ongoing.

COMMENTS

Friday, 09 May 2008

If this guy is not charged and sentenced for using his vehicle as a weapon with the intent to cause injury and forced to pay damages for all of the physical destruction then I may forsake Sydney altogether. It is pure violence. Cyclists and drivers certainly often have a different vision for the way our cities should look, but nobody should have to put up with this sort of thing.

Posted by: Expat in Tokyo, Tokyo

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

Reports say the cyclists claimed to be travelling at 60kph. Jason says he stopped for 20 seconds before being hit. Even if the cyslists were doing 50 kph, that 20 seconds means Jason stopped 277 meters in front of the cyclists before they caught up to him. He wants everyone to believe 50 cyclists delibrately ran up the back of him after he stopped over 250m up the road? Something doesn't add up here. If people are going to make up a story, they need to make up a better one than that.

Posted by: Vincent Lee, Melbourne

Friday, 09 May 2008

Typical of someone from another state comenting on something they don't know their backside from their elbow about. Those cyclists were not supposed to be where they were, they on Ben Kersten's own admission were on a motorway; where cyclists are prohibited, in Sydney peak hour traffic no less. This lunatic wants the driver to be charged with attempted murder. Australia doesn't need wombats like that representing it. He claims cyclists are permitted to ride 2 abreast, what about Critical Mass??

Posted by: James H, United Socialist States of Australia

Monday, 12 May 2008

James H, cyclists can cycle on motorways, for example most of he M5 and the M7 and most of the M2 and F3, so where do you get that crap from? It wasnt peak hour, only 630 am. They were going south so there may have been a few cars heading for the airport but if cyclists cant cycle at that hour on a three lane road then where can they cycle? "Jason" said he had been up all night and was going home, so maybe he had had a few, or was tired, which is much the same thing when driving.

Posted by: bob moore, sydney

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

The plot thickens. I believe there are truths and lies coming from both parties. I dont believe that cyclists should ride in packs, they intimidate other road users riding in this fashion and they never ride 2 abreast and dont obey road rules.

Posted by: Ivo K, Kogarah

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

I sure hope Jason's story agrees with that of the off-duty police officer that saw the incident, if not things could be very interesting - "perverting the course of justice" or "false statement to Police" could be the charges. If he deliberately attacked the cyclists then it will be poetic justice when his car is sold to pay for repairs to the bikes.

Posted by: R Cyclist, Epping

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

This driver's account has hung himself. He is trying to argue that 50 elite cyclists piled into the back of his car after he innocently stopped for 20 sec? -ie over 250+ metres in front of them?!? People can argue both sides until the cows come home if it was just a subjective argument about close proximity "unsafe tailgating by cyclists" vs "dangerous driving by motorist" but the 20 sec/250+m claim changes everything. This huge inconsistency suggests the driver's account is absolute rubbish.

Posted by: Vincent Lee, Melbourne

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

If your car has run out of LPG, or any other problems, you don't slam on the brakes. A normal competent driver would be aware of who are behind him/her, in front of, and on his right or left. A normal competent driver would realise the dangers posed to those behind him by slamming on his brakes all of a sudden. A normal competent driver would put on his emergency blinkers to warn those following and slowly bring the car to a stop. Clearly this guy isn't a competent driver.

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

Charge him with dangerous or even wreckless driving.

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

Saturday, 10 May 2008

Charge the cyclist with stupidity

Posted by: Michael Notting, Wagga Wagga

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

Question the woman passenger separately. Pile on the pressure. If anyone had been killed, I have no doubt the woman would have been questioned.

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

Prove the driver was at fault - trial by media is about as ridiculous as it gets - no one has the right to pervert the course of justice and that goes for the media. How dare Kersten make those remarks and not think of himself as a bully - if he was able to say that blatantly on radio what do you think it was at the the scene - a road rage in the making - these cyclists break the law and you all know it - this should be an example of their own stupidy - the driver did not deliberately do it.

Posted by: Dan Concerned, *

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

What callous indifference to fellow humans. It's clear that attitudes to cyclists need to change a lot, and the best way I can see now is to ahve this guy charged and jailed in a hail of publicity. What does it take to make the average car driver realise that cyclists have families that they'd like to go home to at night? We are not against you, give us the respect and clearance we give you!

Posted by: Adamphetamine the great, Sydney

Saturday, 10 May 2008

Seriously, everyone is as bad as each other, if EVERYONE was considerate and empathetic, we wouldnt have nearly as many problems on the roads, but unfortunately we are selfish, more worried about our own agenda than anything else, which is why we have the problems on the road that we do.

Posted by: shaweee tee, brissy

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

i really don't care about it, i'm over listening to it on radio i had to turn the radio off by 4pm, it just got too tedious listening to it, they should go and spend their money and deal with it in the local courts the police time could be better spent, they both have apalling attitudes from what i heard on the radio, they need to grow up a bit, it must have been a slow news day.....

Posted by: chris slaveking, democratic crusaders alliance

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

The first rule of the road is allow enough space regardless of what happens in front of you. Clear this day dreaming rolling road block did not do that. What morons would deliberately go out to cause as much traffic chaos in peak hour traffic. No wonder they were abused by other drivers. Get off the road. Get a real job. And stop your whining!

Posted by: The Truth Is out there, Dubbo

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

This idiot clearly has a hard time living. Life in a peaceful country clearly isn't his cup of tea. Life in a peace-loving country like Australia, clearly doesn't satisfy him. He wants action. Oh I know, send him to Afghanistan! Ho Ho Ho!!

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

Honestly, I don't know how he copes with pressures in real life. Clearly he doesn't cope well. At all. Not a bit.

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

The truck driver will be a credible witness. He jack-knifed because of it. Bring him in as a witness.

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

This idiot lost it under no provocation. God forbig, I can't imagine what he would do, had he been under more stress, and under provocation.

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

I'm surprised at some of the comments when you all know what the law is! and yet you are all trying to pervert the course of justice-trial by media is a disgusting way of dealing with proving the person guilty first-I thought it was innocent until proven guilty and in this case the driver ran no one over-they hit him in the rear after he had fully stopped cyclists went around the vehicle so if Kersten hit the car in the rear so where is the driver at fault?

Posted by: Dan Concerned, *

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

Clearly this idiot is a genius in disguise. He clearly has expertise in causing havoc. Send him to Iraq. Yeah, let him face the Taliban.

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

So responsible blokes like the slain Lance Corporal Jason Marks could be spared. We don't want idiots.

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

The answer is simple, charge & fine the lot of them! As a cyclist, a father of an elite cyclist, and an experienced motorist I've been exposed to abuse from motorists, walkers, cyclists, and the worst of all, bladers! Cyclists by LAW must only ride 2 abreast but this doesn't give the motorist the right to do wrong as well. Bottom line, if you see someone doing the wrong thing, cyclist/motorist/or terorist, record it with your mobile phone, call the police, and let them decide. So simple!!

Posted by: Mark F, Vic

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

This fellow would be just another juvenile who has graduated to a big car as his toy. Would he pull this stunt in front of a slow moving tractor?

Posted by: Hector Entwhistle, Canberra

 

Friday, 09 May 2008

People can get away with a lot after the fact of the incident. How does one prove malice? The fact is that the roads are for caars, but the government has not built the correct infrastructure for bikes.

Posted by: Indie Fatigue ah Ball, Carramar/Sydney

 

Saturday, 10 May 2008

Firstly, let me say that this 20 sec thing is being completely misrepresented. He didn't say he stopped for 2 seconds. He said it took about 20 seconds to come to a stop. Secondly, why would anyone be deserving of a jail sentence simply because their car stalled? Thirdly "Question the woman passenger separately. Pile on the pressure.". Perhaps they should also do the same to the cyclists. "If anyone had been killed..." a $400 fine, that what the hell ride killer got.

Posted by: bob the builder, Melb

 

Saturday, 10 May 2008

I heard the driver, the cyclist & I heard from a cabbie who said the stalling is plausable in those types of vehicles. If i was on a jury, my judement would be as follows - I do believe that the driver was behind the bikes, and overtaking agressively....but I also believe that the stalling is true. The cyclists wouldn't know about the stalling they weren't in the car! They are PRESUMING it was stopped on purpose. I also think the cyclists DID abuse the driver. Verdict is - they're all idiots.

Posted by: Concerned Liberal, Minto

Saturday, 10 May 2008

Stalling - Police can examine the car by doing tests. Problem solved. Stopped on purpose - It was highly probable the car was stopped on purpose, reason: 50 bikes weren't given adequate distance to brake to a halt. I need to be convinced that ALL 50 cyclists had the death-wish to crash into a car in front and not brake to avoid a crash. Convince me. Verbal abuse - In a case as serious as this, the act that draws a charge, and police will agree, probably won't be the abuse. Trust me.

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

 

Saturday, 10 May 2008

Jason sounds like an absolute idiot and even if the cyclists were annoying him he had no right to do that. I understand that the cyclists were allowed by law to be where they wrere despite some people saying otherwise. I am not a cyclist but I think in the case they are in the right

Posted by: Joanne Ashfield, Sydney

 

Saturday, 10 May 2008

It was an accident doesn't anyone understand what the difference is - the vehicle was also hit from behind - what is law on that issue?? look, the whole thing has been taken out of complete perspective and the trial by media is so bloody disgusting it's not funny - can the crap and get on with the real issues on foot not this rubbish! the DRIVER was RAMMED FROM BEHIND - WHAT IS THE LAW FOLKS WHEN THAT HAPPENS? surely you don't have to have a degree to figure that out!

Posted by: Dan Concerned, *

 

Saturday, 10 May 2008

My mind somehow can't help but wander to the antics of the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote when thinking about this case.

Posted by: Wilfred ., Killara

 

Tuesday, 13 May 2008

As a former student and visitor in Australia, what is most appalling about this incident is not the actions of the driver--obviously there are stupid people in this world-- but the reactions of the media and the public. Cyclists have a right to the road, that is the bottom line. In a country that holds sportsmanship and having 'a fair go' so highly, I cannot understand why any Australian would legitimately side with the motorist in this instance. A complete disgrace to your country.

Posted by: Brian Conger, Madison, WI

 

Thursday, 29 May 2008

dude, you don't just pass a group and stop. that is just stupid.

Posted by: jon jon, newyork

 
 

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