Tandem hit and run....

[Reghard111]

Hi, I copied this from the Club 100 newsletter...maybe someone can help...   Hit and Run - Saturday 5 September - Report by Dr Peter Scott
Two of our members, Jeff & Cynthia Solomon, were involved in a horrific hit and run on route to the start of the Saturday morning club ride.
On the morning of Saturday, 5 September 2009 I was driving on my way to the club ride at Broadacres shopping centre.  At approximate 05h50 I turned left off Main Road, Bryanston into Witkoppen Road.  Approximately 200m from the corner where there is a clear shoulder and double road I saw a cyclist standing on the side of the road, a security response vehicle with his lights flashing and the wheels of a bicycle lying off the road.  As I got closer I saw 2 cyclists lying motionless approximately 5m off the road in the gutter, which was more like a donga at that stage.   I came over to identify my friends Jeff & Cynthia Solomons as the injured cyclists.  Cynthia at that stage was semi-comatosed and lying on her back.  Amazingly however, she opened her eyes and identified me by name.  Her husband Jeff was lying next to her on his side but at that stage not conscious.  I could identify severe facial injuries and the start of a left peri-orbital haematoma.  Fortunately, both of them had a good airway and pulse volume.   The two people present had called for ambulance and police and fortunately within 10 minutes we had 2 response cars, three ambulances followed by a fire truck and a tow truck.  At that stage the paramedics immobilised Cynthia and Jeff on fracture boards with neck braces and they were transported to the Sunninghill Clinic.  I contacted Olly who came and fetched their tandem bicycle which still had its head light on and real tail light flasher but was in several pieces.  I followed the ambulances to Sunnighill Clinic where I handed over to the casualty officer and went back a few hours later.   Jeff & Cynthia were in the Sunninghill Clinic Intensive Care Unit.  They had been seen by Mark Eltringham, Orthopaedic Surgeon and also a club member.  Both of them had multiple spinal fractures, fortunately without paralysis.  Cynthia had a broken right elbow and their level of consciousness had improved although they still had no recollection of the accident.  Except for Cynthia?s case who said that on seeing me there she knew everything would be alright.   The tragedy of this whole event is that Jeff & Cynthia had front and rear lights and Cynthia was wearing a new reflective jacket, similar to those worn by our bike marshals.  Despite this and the fact that they were within the yellow line, they were knocked off their bike with such force that it ended up in 3 pieces and they were thrown at least 5m from the bike.  Brett, the cyclist cycling behind them, noted that the car was a white Hyundai involved in this hit and run incident.  In fact, pieces of the car?s headlight and reflector were present at the scene of the accident but unfortunately no number plate.   All credit goes to Brett the cyclist who stopped and the security guard in the response vehicle who parked his car with flashing lights to block the lane to prevent any further injuries.  Also to the fire department and ambulance services for their rapid response.   In a message to the public out there, if your son or daughter or neighbour has a smashed head light on the white Hyundai that cannot be properly explained, PLEASE contact the relevant authorities.  The same would apply to anybody involved in Hyundai spares or panelbeating.   Signed, DR PETER SCOTT

[cat-i]

wow, good that there was a doctor on the scene so quickly!

any updates as to how they are doing?

 

[Aquatic]

Our thaughts go out to Jeff and Cynthia,and i wish them a speedy recovery..I hope some one comes forward with some information

 

 

 

 

[Drinks@Brawn]

this was posted already, but my thoughts and prayers are whith you.

[Drinks@Brawn]

Tandem crash

Posted on the 7th, seems that CSA has got involved and there is some communication with their friends / family. May God bless them all and help them through this troubled time. 

[Capricorn]

 

i think all cyclists should carry at the very least a space blanket that someone else can drape over them while waiting for emergency services, especially the morning riders when it can be so cold outside. Cold plus the trauma of the event cant be good.

 

 

 

I hope those two recover fully, God willing.

Capricorn2009-09-11 21:53:46

[Ricycle]

Thoughts & prayers with Jeff & Cynthia. Please be careful out there all of you, although this incident once again proves that you can be as careful as humanly possible but, sadly, there is still no accounting for moron drivers. Gratitude & praise to all who assisted!

[Guest Frail4Life]

Like everything else the small person / soft spoken will suffer. I say enough is enough. I am no longer going to keep quiet. I ride  with respect for all other road users and have had my share of accidents. It is time we stand together, we need to work together with more communication. Let it be cycling clubs or just different suburbs. We need to generate more visibility when we are on the road. Have four sets of eyes looking at all motorists moving around you on the road. Must we ride with SWAT team as back vechile??

[jacko]

Just to give you an update on Jeff and Cynthia?s condition ? Both of them are at home now although Cynthia went back into hospital for an op on her arm earlier this week.  They have a nurse aid at home and their children are all flying in from overseas to be with them.   Both Cynthia and Jeff are up and about but moving slowly due to the extent of their spinal injuries.  Although there was no neurological damage the healing process will be long and I am sure very frustrating for them both.  <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

[Rob22]

I hate reading headlines like 'another cyclist hit' but when you know the person involved its even worse. I have known Jeff for many years and he has done a lot for cycling in SA.

 

I really hope he and his wife recover completely - I also hope the bar*&ted is caught.