Wednesday, September 08, 1999Cyclist critical after collision
Bike trail crowded on holiday
BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati EnquirerHAMILTON TOWNSHIP — A Symmes Township cyclist remained in critical condition Tuesday after a head-on crash on a crowded Little Miami Bike Trail.
Richard Michaelson, 44, of Symmesgate Lane was airlifted to University Hospital following the accident at 11:45 a.m. Monday. He then underwent brain surgery.
The accident occurred when Mr. Michaelson, who was riding third in a pack of four cyclists, began passing the others as two oncoming cyclists rounded a bend near Adams Road, said Chris Dawner, assistant manager of the Little Miami Scenic State Park.
Mr. Michaelson was not wearing a helmet when he collided with the oncoming cyclist, Gregory Haas of Price Hill.
Mr. Haas, who had a helmet on, walked away with cuts and bruises and declined emergency medical attention, Mr. Dawner said. He stressed the importance of wearing a helmet when cycling.
“There's no law saying you have to wear a helmet,” he said. “If the guy just had a helmet on, who knows? Mr. Haas walked away. Just a simple moment of whatever, and boom, you're in a life-threatening situation”
Another cyclist in Mr. Michaelson's group, Ken Fuchiwaki of Symmes Township, crashed trying to avoid the collision. He was treated at Bethesda North Hospital for a lacerated eye and other scrapes and was released. No other injuries were reported.
The trail, which extends 60 miles from Milford to Yellow Springs, was busier than usual Monday with leisure and speed cyclists, in-line skaters and walkers. That added to the potential for accidents, Mr. Dawner said.
“On busy days like it was yesterday, everybody has a right to be there,” he said. “But you get (people) cruising and maybe they need a little more care.”
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