In the US biking community, this story has received a lot of attention. As a cyclist who has been cut off by cars (and crashed into them because of it) it infuriates me to hear about irresponsible drivers. Even worse in this case, it was a doctor who probably often witnessed and helped people who were victims of horrible accidents. As a cyclist, you're highly exposed when interacting with cars and it's a battle you are not going to win. At the same time I see irresponsible cyclists every day that don't help create a good road environment. (Obviously nothing excuses this driver and his extreme behavior.) At the same time, bikes can't inflict the same amount of damage as a ton of steel.
So because of a very poor decision, this doctor is going to prison for five years. What a waste for society. As angry as I get when drivers act like nuts (and I just had a truck rev his engine and charge me last week after being squeezed onto the curb) five years sounds really extreme. Then again, the victims were hurt very badly and could have died. As an ER doctor, shouldn't he have known the risks? Even speaking as a person who has lost family and friends to irresponsible drivers, I'm torn on the possible severity of the prison term. The ER doctor was 1000% wrong and there's no defending his actions but again, what a waste. As more people hit the streets biking, we're bound to see more stories like this.
Prosecutors alleged that Thompson stopped his car after passing the two cyclists and shouting at them to ride single file. The cyclists testified that they began maneuvering to ride one after the other when they noticed Thompson's car approaching fast behind them but that the driver passed dangerously close before abruptly stopping.
Ron Peterson, a coach for USC's and UCLA's cycling team, was flung face-first into the rear windshield of the doctor's red Infiniti, breaking his front teeth and nose and lacerating his face. Christian Stoehr, the other cyclist, hurtled to the sidewalk and suffered a separated shoulder.
A police officer testified that Thompson told him soon after the accident that the cyclists had cursed at him and flipped him off, so he slammed on his brakes "to teach them a lesson."
