A 47-year-old Oak Ridge man was killed Thursday evening in an accident on Illinois Avenue near Boeing Road.
Mark Randall Martin, 109 Mockingbird Lane, was riding his bicycle at 6:40 p.m. Thursday on South Illinois Avenue near Boeing Road, when he was struck by a vehicle, according to his father, Bill Martin.
As if that isn’t tragic enough, consider the cause:
According to Lt. Alan Massengill of the Oak Ridge Police Department, the vehicle was driven by Wanda Thornton, 39, 1113 Rockley Road, Knoxville. He said Thornton indicated to officers that she leaned over to adjust her radio and her vehicle left the road, striking Martin.
A female driver adjusting the radio as she approaches someone riding on the shoulder. Lovely. I can just imagine the thought process.
Driver: Man, I hate this song; they played it when I was listening this morning. I need to change the station.
Let’s see–is there anyone on the road ahead?
No . . . except for that guy riding a bike. But he’s a good two or three feet outside the lane. I’m good at driving without looking at the road, so no problem there.
Man, how do you change the station? You’d think in this expensive SUV they’d have a simpler radio to operate. I know there are station presets, but the owner’s manual was too complicated to try to read, so I’ll just hit this knob until I find another station.
[Crunch].
Hmmm. What was that?
And sadly, in our just world, she probably won’t receive any meaningful punishment for killing a father of two.
If I sound irked, it’s because I am. It could just as easily been me getting squashed by some inattentive tank driver. There are too many dangerous drivers out there. Most of the time, I try not to think about it–otherwise I wouldn’t ride. But they’re out there, armed with radios, and cell phones, and make up, and kids.
I hear you..too many drivers get away with killing other users of the road because they aren’t paying attention to the road. Driving is a responsibility, period. You are in control of a several thousand pound vehicle that travels very quickly and can do lots of damage. You have a responsibility to other users of the road..this means no cellphone calls, adjusting the radio and other means of distraction.
“A female driver adjusting the radio as she approaches someone riding on the shoulder. Lovely. I can just imagine the thought process.”
Is there any particular reason, Brian, that you used the adjective “female” here when we already know that the driver was a woman?
Is there any particular reason, Brian, that you used the adjective “female” here when we already know that the driver was a woman?
Yes. Because it fits my stereotype that some female drivers (often found in SUVs) are easily distracted.
I can’t believe you said that! At least you admit you’re stereotyping. Shame, shame, shame on you, Brian!
Although an incredibly unfortunate accident. I will reserve judgement for the driver until all of the facts are in, mainly because two things occur to me. For starters I am familiar with Illinois Ave. and there is I believe a hill right at the point that they speak of, if the driver began to adjust her radio and couldn’t see anyone for the hill And secondly, I feel that bicycle laws need to change. There shouldn’t be bicyclists on roads that are posted over 30mph unless a true bicyle lane is provided and precautionary steps in place to protect the bicyclists in place(ex: when cars are crossing a bike lane, giving appropriate yield, etc.) There are so many other safer places to ride, and if the citizens wish to ride everywhere then the city should provide safer access to the roadways.
I have to passionately disagree with the reply regarding keeping cyclists off roads that are posted less than 30mph. That would eliminate 90% of my rides. Many cyclist train on long rides 40+ miles, and can only do that on rural roads. What about communting as well? I can’t bike to Oak Ridge on ‘quiet’ roads or I would.
I think the point is that we can coexist on roads. It comes down to understanding. There are some arrogant cyclists who don’t ride single file or take their ‘rights’ too far. And there are motorists that throw things and yell at cyclists, I guess because a cyclist is easy prey.
I wish that city planners would make Oak Ridge cycle friendly. Cities like Seattle have figured that out.
um…the guy that was “crunched” was my father. and bicycles have just as much right on the road as cars do. maybe drivers should pay more attention. i was only 17 when my dad died. just cause some dumb woman had to change the station on her radio. now i’ll never see my father again until god says its time.
i appreciate the little artical that you wrote brian.
but crunch???? cmon now…thats pretty disturbing to read that.
my father was hit and killed. i am the daughter of the man you are talking about.
Lindsey,
I’m sorry your father was killed, and I’m sorry if the wording in my post seemed as if I was trivializing the accident.
I do quite a bit of cycling on the roads and never know whether or not I may be the next person hit. So I’m quite aware of the serious danger out there. I didn’t intend my blog entry to suggest otherwise.
Well thank you, Brian. I’m sure you didn’t mean anything by your words used.
Be careful out there. You never know about drivers.