Missouri Bicycle News Article

According to a KSHB-TV News story, a driver assaulted an injured a bicyclist riding on the loop drive around Kansas City's downtown airport. The loop drive is a very low traffic area and is a popular location with Kansas City area bicyclists:

A bicyclist is nursing several injuries after he said a driver went out of her way to run him off the road. . . .

On Saturday afternoon, Pullium and his son were riding on NW Lou Holland Drive when they heard a car approach behind them.

“The driver was honking the horn and yelling for us to get off the road,” he said.

The pair tried to move to the right so the car could pass, but the driver kept stepping on the accelerator and then slamming on the brakes, according to Pullium.

After yelling an obscenity, Pullium said the heard the car approach his back tire and then felt the impact.

“I kind of slid down the side of the car. My rear wheel went under the tires. Luckily, my legs didn’t,” Pullium said.

The collision mangled the bike and sent Pullium rolling to the pavement. Adding insult to injury, the driver didn’t stop after the accident.

Pulliam and his son located the car in a nearby parking lot and called police, who are investigating the incident as assault.

The incident appears to fit the definition of second-degree assault under Missouri law, a Class C felony with penalty of up to seven years in prison:

Attempts to cause or knowingly causes physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument

In addition, fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle accident that results in physical injury to another party is a Class D felony, with a penalty of up to four years in prison.

Related:

Tips&Stories: Missouri bicycle lawyers

Newsletter: Support MoBikeFed's Campaign for a Safer Kansas City

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News: Kansas City to go "from worst to first" in bicycling

News: Followup: Misdemeanor charges for enraged drive who struck bicyclist