Messenger Struck In Road Rage Hit and Run Incident

[Bike Coalition]

According to the Philadelphia Bicycle Messengers Association (PBMA) messenger Rachel Fletcher was hit by an irate driver in a silver hatchback on Wednesday Morning at 2:30 AM after leaving from her second job. The driver yelled at her to get off the road and then intentionally struck her bike before leaving the scene. Fellow couriers arrived at Hahnemann Hospital and called Police. The officer arrived to take the report and apparently conveyed less empathy than the messengers thought warranted and told them this was an "accident" and would be treated as such. Some of them went to the crash scene and reportedly found blood and other evidence.

Rachel suffered a broken jaw and was undergoing surgery on Friday. PBMA plans to stage a demonstration at 5:30 PM Monday at Love Park.

[ShoshTrvls]

Sorry to hear this; were there any witnesses, particularly to the part about the driver yelling at the messenger?

BTW, any reason you don't post articles that involve, say, bicyclists killing pedestrians and leaving the scene? And don't organize similar vigils for them?

[lbphilly]

Sorry to hear this; were there any witnesses, particularly to the part about the driver yelling at the messenger?

BTW, any reason you don't post articles that involve, say, bicyclists killing pedestrians and leaving the scene? And don't organize similar vigils for them?

The pedestrian - cyclist accidents were very upsetting to the community as well. Perhaps you're not aware of the efforts the Bicycle Coalition are putting forth through their Bicycle Ambassador program to teach clueless and/or scofflaw cyclists the rules of the road.

But a deliberate assault on a cyclist using a motor vehicle as a weapon is another thing entirely. I was once deliberately rear-ended by an irate elderly woman who wanted me out of the way so she could make a right turn on red. It's not an experience I'll forget in a hurry. I was fortunate not to have been knocked down or injured. I had several witnesses, including a carriage driver with the presence of mind to write down the license number, but the police officer I flagged down wouldn't even write up a report.

[Glenn Quagmire]

What are you going to protest, maybe I missed the chance to protest bike messengers when one killed the lawyer. Give me a break, this will waste more tax payers money when civil affairs are called. Go have a Pabst, get more bad tattoos and stay out of the way

[Digthepast]

The pedestrian - cyclist accidents were very upsetting to the community as well. Perhaps you're not aware of the efforts the Bicycle Coalition are putting forth through their Bicycle Ambassador program to teach clueless and/or scofflaw cyclists the rules of the road.

But a deliberate assault on a cyclist using a motor vehicle as a weapon is another thing entirely. I was once deliberately rear-ended by an irate elderly woman who wanted me out of the way so she could make a right turn on red. It's not an experience I'll forget in a hurry. I was fortunate not to have been knocked down or injured. I had several witnesses, including a carriage driver with the presence of mind to write down the license number, but the police officer I flagged down wouldn't even write up a report.

I was hit by a car while on my bicycle on Spruce Street about a year ago, commuting home from work. This was before the present bike lanes were installed. The driver fled the scene. I am not a bike messenger, but I WILL be at Love Park on Monday.

[Mr Morley]

Oh goodie. The foundation for yet another bike-hate thread has been laid.

Have fun, kids.

[bryson662001]

Sorry to hear this

Yea......me too LOL

[supersupper]

Yea......me too LOL

And the child responds.

[BeckyJ]

The pedestrian - cyclist accidents were very upsetting to the community as well. Perhaps you're not aware of the efforts the Bicycle Coalition are putting forth through their Bicycle Ambassador program to teach clueless and/or scofflaw cyclists the rules of the road.

That's good to know, but the Bicycle Coalition was nowhere to be found in any public response when the paralegal was killed and the bicyclist fled the scene. They did not organize a vigil for him, nor did they condemn the rider's actions publicly (e.g. on this forum). I do hope the messenger who was hit fully recovers.

[cewillm]

Why was the messenger doing a job at 2:30 AM? I could imagine there might be some late-night legal offices in town but it still seems pretty odd.

[Mr Morley]

Why was the messenger doing a job at 2:30 AM? I could imagine there might be some late-night legal offices in town but it still seems pretty odd.

Leaving their second (non-messenger) job, which you'd know if you'd read the first post in the thread.

[cewillm]

Leaving their second (non-messenger) job, which you'd know if you'd read the first post in the thread.

I think the OP should edit the post then. If it's an off the job accident what does being a messenger have to do with it? The writing right now makes it sound like the accident occurred after the messenger's second job (run) of the night.

[sampsonite]

That's good to know, but the Bicycle Coalition was nowhere to be found in any public response when the paralegal was killed and the bicyclist fled the scene. They did not organize a vigil for him, nor did they condemn the rider's actions publicly (e.g. on this forum). I do hope the messenger who was hit fully recovers.

what r u talking about
there are bills politicians that trying to pass because of that accident
and yes there were a few posts on this forum about that incident

and the thing that makes it different is that this was done out of rage and the driver intended to hit the girl and injure her on purpose

what if she smashed her head opened and died...or the driver ran her over
it's still a hit and run and the cops just shrugged it off as and accident
even after an accident your not supposed to just drive away

[Hiki]

I think the OP should edit the post then. If it's an off the job accident what does being a messenger have to do with it? The writing right now makes it sound like the accident occurred after the messenger's second job (run) of the night.

Was was relevant to knowing the pedestrian who was killed was a paralegal?

[Not New]

where did it happen? who was driving the silver hatchback? apparently they exchanged words. Leaving a job at 2:30 AM, seems to mean she was working at a bar, was she intoxicated? How about posting a few facts?

[MERKIN]

What are you going to protest, maybe I missed the chance to protest bike messengers when one killed the lawyer. Give me a break, this will waste more tax payers money when civil affairs are called. Go have a Pabst, get more bad tattoos and stay out of the way

go **** yourself!

[MERKIN]

Yea......me too LOL

you too!

[bryson662001]

I think the OP should edit the post then. If it's an off the job accident what does being a messenger have to do with it? The writing right now makes it sound like the accident occurred after the messenger's second job (run) of the night.

The fact that it was a bike messenger is a clue that she is probably from the most offensive group of bike riders. Lepords don't change their spots. Of course that isn't a justification but it makes it more understandable. I don't condone drivers who loose control of themselves but I can still sympathize with them. I do not believe these are just random and unprevoked attacks on bike riders for the thrill of it.

[sampsonite]

where did it happen? who was driving the silver hatchback? apparently they exchanged words. Leaving a job at 2:30 AM, seems to mean she was working at a bar, was she intoxicated? How about posting a few facts?

it could possibly be that the driver was also intoxicated and went on a rage because of his drunken state and didnt stick around because he was under the influence and he hit a person...

The fact that it was a bike messenger is a clue that she is probably from the most offensive group of bike riders. Lepords don't change their spots. Of course that isn't a justification but it makes it more understandable. I don't condone drivers who loose control of themselves but I can still sympathize with them. I do not believe these are just random and unprevoked attacks on bike riders for the thrill of it.

it could be possible that the biker did provoke the driver or the driver was just in a bad mood..either way
even so it does not justify or make it understandable if a person uses their car as a weapon to hurt another person over some petty argument with a few exchange of words
its like a person walking around with a baseball bat and smacking people in the face with it if the person didnt like they way they were looking at them

anyways what about all the people who say "I'm gonna run over all you bikers in my truck" type people i think if they would and it was 2:30am so who would witness them..especially if they were intoxicated

[Bike Coalition]

Some fact checking here -
1 - We have had lots to say about pedestrians being killed by bicyclists. It's tragic and preventable but it's also rare, especially when compared to pedestrians killed by motor vehicle (more the 90 in the past 3 years). Philadelphia Bicycle News

2 - The Phila. Bike Messenger Assn. is holding the demonstration in Love Park not the Bike Coalition. The are angry that the Police did not treat the crash as a hit and run vehicular assault. There is a common saying "If you are going to kill someone, do it in a car"

3 - Having a big bag and a fixed gear bike doesn't make you a messenger. There are only 60 messengers in a city where 300,000 people ride a bicycle.

4 - The Bicycle Coalition's position is to kill the Kenney and DiCicco Bills but we also favor equitable and consistent enforcement for all road users. Our position is here - Philadelphia Bicycle News: Bicycle Coalition Opposes Proposed Bike Regulations