Bicyclist clings to life after crash

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A bicyclist police say was crossing Lomas Boulevard NE against the light suffered life-threatening injuries when he was hit by a car Friday.

It was the second bad bicycle crash in Albuquerque this week.

Jennifer Buntz, with Duke City Wheelmen Foundation was on her way to drop off flower for Scott Lane, the cyclist hit and killed on Tuesday, when she heard another bicyclist was hit on Albuquerque roads Friday.

“We're really sad. We feel for the families,” Buntz said. “These people, they're not just cyclists.  They're fathers, brothers and sons and husbands.”

Lane was struck by a car on Osuna near Jefferson on Tuesday. The father of four and an avid bicyclist was on his way home from work.

Witnesses said a driver ran a red light and plowed into Lane. He died a short time later.

However, on Friday it was a completely different story. A mangled bicycle was all that was left behind after the rider was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Witnesses and the driver of a 1993 Oldsmobile told Albuquerque police officers the bicyclist was crossing Lomas from north to south and was in the crosswalk despite having a Don't Walk signal.

The driver was in the median lane traveling at or about the 35 mph speed limit and was unable to avoid the collision because a vehicle on his right blocked his view of the bicyclist, police said.

The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet and suffered traumatic and potentially fatal injuries, according to police.

His name has not been released.

He is currently in the intensive-care unit at UNM Hospital.

Buntz said crashes like this will forever change the lives of the victims’ families.

“You need drivers to be paying more attention,” Buntz said.

However, Buntz also said cyclists need to play by the rules too.

“As a cyclist it's in my best interest to obey the laws and do what I have to do to keep myself safe,” Buntz said.

Police said the driver of the car in Friday’s crash did not appear to be impaired or to have been speeding.

Citations are pending against the bicyclist, a police spokesperson said.