Here's a bit of a EMT public service announcement:
If you happen to be in Vail, Colorado for heaven's sake don't ride a bike because if you happen to be struck and almost killed by a wealthy driver who is temporarily overcome by the 'new car smell' of his Mercedes-Benz the prosecutor and judge won't be on your side.
In fact they won't be on the side of any person who happens to make the mistake of riding a bike in Vail, Colorado.
This week in an Eagle, Colorado court room District Court Judge Frederick Gannett and Deputy District Attorney Mark Brostrom once again proved that when you get on a bike on bike in America you take your life in your own hands, and of course forfiet the full protection of the law.
Prominent Denver wealth manager Marty Erzinger was senteced to, "one year of probation and 90 days in jail for running down cyclist Dr. Steven Milo with his new car and then leaving the scene of the accident," according to the Vail Daily.
Basically the judges sentence, "prohibits Erzinger from driving a car for one year, and he has the option of either completing 60 days of work release in county jail or doing 45 straight days of charitable work which would require he take a leave of absence from work. He is also required to make a charitable donation and pay court costs and fines."
So let's see if we have this correct?
Marty Erzinger stuck Dr. Steven Milo with his Merc from behind, left the scene of the accident leaving Dr. Milo for dead without so much as dropping a business card on Milo's crushed and battered body, and than Erzinger drove all the way through Avon, the town's roundabouts, under I-70 and stopped in the Pizza Hut parking lot where he called the Mercedes auto assistance service to report damage to his vehicle, and asked that his car be towed. And, here's the interesting fact, he did not ask for law enforcement assistance, according to court records.
In court his attorney's blamed sleep apnea combined with the Mercedes-Benz "new car smell" as the reason for him striking the Milo and driving away from the scene of the collision.
The Vail Daily goes on to report that:
"Milo suffered numerous injuries in the July 3 accident, including bleeding in his brain, spinal cord and cervical disc injuries and damage to his knee and scapula, according to reports and motions filed on his behalf.
“This has caused a lot of pain and suffering in our family,” Milo said.
"Milo added that "Erzinger was manipulative from the beginning and has never taken responsibility for what happened that day."
But than again why should Erzinger take responsibility in town and in a country where cyclist are too often blamed for the their own misfortune and accidents.
Our best advice: think very hard before setting foot on a bike in Vail, Colorado.
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