On September 25, 2009, 52 year old, Nathaniel "Mack" Isaac was crossing the train tracks at Wabash Avenue and Olive Street, in Lakeland, FL, on his bicycle when he was struck by an Amtrak train at about 5:50 p.m. Friends of Isaac stated that he had multiple alcoholic drinks before hopping on his bicycle Friday to head home and suspect he may have tried to commit suicide. Issac was pronounced dead at the scene, according to EMS and Polk County, FL Fire officials.
According to the Lakeland Ledger, Issac, who is originally from Ohio, lived on nearby Morrow Street with his girlfriend in Lakeland, FL. It is stated that he performed yard jobs for a living and had recently purchased his bike for $75 from his neighbor, Gary Guthrie.
At this same intersection, there have been other accidents that have occurred. In July 2007, a train crashed, killing four young people who attempted to cross the train tracks in a car. A memorial remains at the scene in honor of these victims.
The Federal Rail Road Administration Office of Safety Analysis(FRRAOSA), reports that there have been 93 total train crashes, in which 16 where fatality train crashes in 2009. In 2008, there were 36 fatal and 97 nonfatal crashes involving trains in Lakeland, FL. As reported on the FRRAOSA, in Polk County, FL, there have been 91 reported incidents for CSX Transportation, 56 for Amtrak, and 3 for Florida Midland RR Co. which brings the total for Polk County, FL to 150 reported incident since 2008.
The National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA) reports that in 2007, 698 bicyclists were killed and an additional 44,000 were injured in traffic crashes. Bicyclist deaths accounted for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities, and bicyclists made up 2 percent of all individuals injured in traffic crashes during the year.
The number of bicyclist fatalities in 2007 was 14 percent lower than the 814 fatalities reported in 1997. The fatality Analysis Reporting System(FARS),reports that the highest number of bicyclist fatalities ever recorded was 1,003 in 1975. Bicyclists accounted for 13 percent of all non-occupant traffic fatalities in 2007.
There are 73 to 85 million bicycle riders in the US, including 44.7 million over age of 6 who rode more than six times in 2008. 698 bicyclists reportedly died on US roads in 2007. In a typical year, over 90 percent of cyclists killed on US roads die in crashes with motor vehicles. The "typical" bicyclist killed on our roads is a sober male over 16 not wearing a helmet riding on a major road between intersections in an urban area on a summer evening when hit by a car. About 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms with injuries every year. Of those, about 67,000 have head injuries, and 27,000 have injuries serious enough to be hospitalized. Non-helmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than helmeted riders. Head injuries account for more than 60 percent of bicycle-related deaths, more than two-thirds of bicycle-related hospital admissions and about one-third of hospital emergency room visits for bicycling injuries.
The preliminary statistics from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reported in November, 2008, that, Bicyclist deaths in 2007: 698 (Down from 773 in 2006), Bicyclist injuries in traffic in 2007: 43,000 (Down from 44,000 in 2006).
The NHTSA, reported in August, 2006, that a running total of bicyclist deaths in 2005 where: 784 (Up 26% from 2003), Male bicyclist deaths in 2005: 684 (87%) , Night time bicyclist deaths in 2005: 380 (48%) ,Bicyclists killed by motor vehicles: 720 (92%),Bicyclists injured by motor vehicles: 45,000 (up 9.8%),Bicyclists killed in alcohol-related crashes: 281 (up 10%),Bicyclists injured in alcohol-related crashes: 3,000
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, reported that in 2006, two percent of motor vehicle-related deaths are bicyclists. The most serious injuries among a majority of those killed are to the head, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. Helmet use has been estimated to reduce head injury risk by 85 percent. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have helmet laws applying to young bicyclists; none of these laws applies to all riders. Local ordinances in a few states require some or all bicyclists to wear helmets. A nationwide phone survey estimated that as state helmet use laws increases, there is an 18 percent probability that a rider will wear a helmet. Helmets are important for riders of all ages, especially because 85 percent of bicycle deaths are persons 16 and older.
The fatality anaylisis reporting system(FARS) reported that a total of 772 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2006. Bicyclist deaths were down 23 percent since 1975 but 23 percent more than in 2003. The decline among female bicyclists (49 percent) was larger than the decline among male bicyclists (18 percent). Ninety-five percent of bicyclists killed in 2006 reportedly weren't wearing helmets.
In my practice as a personal injury attorney, serving the folks of Polk County, FL, I represent those who have been injured or killed as a result of an accident. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, it is important that you obtain immediate legal counsel to investigate your claim and protect your legal rights.
