RSSInjured cyclist recovering in Seattle hospital
Yakima Herald-Republic
E-mail
Print
Comments
More 'Local'
- Avalanche control impedes traffic
- Right Pro Hardware closing after 15 years
- Wapato homicide is county's 20th this year
- Woman's family sues for medical negligence
- Recount for Selah CIty Council race is Dec. 7
- Shortfall may force budget cuts in Wapato
- Local job growth gets a financial lift
YAKIMA, Wash. -- Authorities say they're still looking for the driver who hit a retired neurosurgeon on his bike and then fled Wednesday.
The bicyclist, 72-year-old Leslie Ross Bornfleth, remained in satisfactory condition Thursday evening at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center.
He suffered multiple fractures after being hit on Wide Hollow Road when he stopped at 101st Avenue and signaled a left turn, authorities said.
The accident occurred in the middle of the afternoon and Bornfleth was wearing a helmet, according to the Yakima County Sheriff's Office.
The vehicle that hit the bicyclist was described as a mid-1990s Toyota 4-Runner. Witnesses said it was green or lavender.
"As many are aware, there are more and more bicyclists on the roadways," Sgt. John Durand wrote in an e-mail. "Drivers need to be aware of them and should always expect the unexpected.
"They should slow down and also allow for plenty of room when passing cyclists so as to not crowd them off the roadway."
The driver involved in Wednesday's accident remains unidentified and authorities "really need help from the public in trying to identify him," Durand said.
Witnesses described the driver only as a man in his 40s, according to the sheriff's office.
Bornfleth, who was flown to Harborview late Wednesday, had worked as a neurosurgeon for more than 20 years at Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center before retiring in 1997, hospital officials said.
"Dr. Bornfleth is highly regarded in this community and our hospital, and on behalf of Yakima Regional, our thoughts and prayers are with him, and we wish him a complete and speedy recovery," said Monte Bostwick, the hospital's CEO.
Highlighting the importance of bicycle safety, Durand made the following suggestions:
* Wear the proper safety equipment to make yourself as visible as possible.
* Obey the rules of the road, including stopping at stop signs and using hand signals to show intentions to turn and stop.
* Use the right side of lane, or a bike lane if it's available. Also, when traveling with a group, ride in single file.
Anyone with information on Wednesday's accident is asked to call the sheriff's office at 509-574-2500.
* Melissa Sánchez can be reached at 509-577-7675 or msanchez@yakimaherald.com.
"Use the right side of lane, or a bike lane if it's available." -- Not always possible since the right side of the road is poorly maintained in most cases around Yakima.
MEMO TO DRIVERS: When riding on a roadway, a cyclist has all the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle driver (RCW 46.61.755).
It's great to hear that the good doctor is doing well. Hopefully he makes a complete recovery will no aftereffects.
Report ViolationI drive up Wide Hollow regularly, and there are quite a few bicyclists, which surprises me because there is very little room on that road between the shoulder, and the traffic is going at 45 MPH.
This sounds even worse because it sounds as if someone just it him without realizing or caring that he was there.
I'm a bit confused as why the witnesses can't distinguish if the car was purple or green though. Did it have a special paintjob that would give it multicolors or something?
Posting Guidelines - Updated Aug. 21 2009
Readers are encouraged to use these forums to discuss issues affecting the
Yakima Valley. Debate the ideas presented in stories and other comments, but
refrain from personal attacks and offensive remarks aimed at others; e.g.,
you may call an idea idiotic, but don't say the person is an idiot. The
Herald-Republic reserves the right to remove any comment for any reason.
Examples include material that is obscene, encourages illegal activity or
stereotypes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and
other factors. Continued violation of these guidelines can lead to
suspension or revocation of your ability to post comments. If you believe a
comment is inappropriate, you can bring it to our attention by clicking the
"report violation" link by each comment. Guidelines revised Aug. 21, 2009.
Registered User?
