Cyclist Dies in Tragic Crash on Cosgrove Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina

CHARLESTON, SC- Couton2.com writes that a fatal crash took place in the early morning this week between a driver and a cyclist. The incident occurred on the Cosgrove Bridge when a northbound Chrysler Town and Country minivan collided with a man on a bike.*

Responders transported the victim to the Medical University of South Carolina, where he died a short while later from his injuries. 

Police later identified the man killed in the crash as a 59-year-old from Charleston. Officers are still investigating the cause of the crash. 

Cyclists are less protected on the road than people in cars, and as such, when a collision takes place between a bike and a vehicle, the consequences are often devastating to the cyclist. Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that in 2018 a total of 857 people died in traffic accidents while they were riding bikes. 

One of the first pieces of advice the NHTSA has for cyclists is to use a helmet. Not only is it important to have a helmet on whenever riding a bike, but it is also crucial to ensure that the helmet is properly fitted to the cyclist. Bikes should also fit the rider to help prevent accidents. In order to increase visibility, cyclists should have bright colored clothes, use the reflective gear, and have lights and reflectors on their bikes if riding at night or at times with lower visibility. 

Drivers also must respect the rights of cyclists to use the road and provide them with plenty of space. Defensive driving and refraining from speeding can help lower the risks presented to people on bikes.

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or a family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Sources:

https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/charleston-pd-responding-to-vehicle-vs-bicyclist-collision-on-the-cosgrove-bridge/

https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety