Cycling community outraged about bicyclist hit and run
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Outrage is building among some members of the cycling community. It comes after one of their own was hit by a car…with the driver leaving the scene. Video by fox4now.com
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FORT MYERS, Fla. - Outrage is building among some members of the cycling community. It comes after one of their own was hit by a car…with the driver leaving the scene.
Investigators eventually found the driver, but they didn't put her in jail even though she admitted to the crime. And that is now infuriating bicycle advocates.
“I'm very lucky to be here right now talking to you.” Ciro Crespo said.
Ciro Crespo now sports some unwanted injuries, sore bones and a bandaged arm.
“They're thinking I might’ve torn a rotator cuff so I've got to go this week to get the MRI.
To top it off, he walks with a limp. This all happened while he was riding his bike around this curve in Bonita Springs Saturday morning.
“Before you know it, I'm rolling on the hood of a car.”
The Lee County Sheriff's Office found the driver, Catherine Turner.
The 73 year old - not arrested - instead issued a citation for leaving the scene of crash with injuries and required to appear in court in November... Even after reportedly admitting to she knew that she hit Crespo.
This incident has cycle advocate Michelle Avola seeing red.
“We just can't even believe the lack of regard for human life that this woman had and that the only thing she's having to answer to is leaving the scene of a crash.” Avola said.
I contacted the Sheriff's Office to find out why turner was not taken to jail.
They would not grant me an on-camera interview, but they did bullet point some of their reasons.
Among them: Turner's age.
They also said she was not considered a danger to the community. And that Crespo was not critically hurt.
reasons that Avola refuses to accept. “[Turner] should be arrested. There should be jail time. There should be some hefty fines... I don't want to see her driving until she has done some time. Done some community service.”
As for Crespo, he plans to put pressure on the sheriff's office, but has his doubts that anything will be done.
“I feel like there's not going to do nothing.” Crespo said.
The sheriff's office maintains that the notice to appear in court is as good as an arrest. But Avola is planning a meeting with the sheriff's office tomorrow. She has invited other witnesses in hopes of convincing the sheriff's office to put Turner behind bars.
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