Car Strikes Child on Bike Causing Severe Injuries on Beach Drive on Oak Island, North Carolina (NC)

OAK ISLAND, NC- Wwaytv3.com writes that a child sustained severe injuries after being struck by a car while biking in the afternoon on Oak Island. The late afternoon crash occurred on Beach Drive when the child tried to cross the road. The driver was traveling east at the time.*

Police reported that the driver of the vehicle is cooperating with the investigation. The young cyclist was transported to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center following the crash and then airlifted a second time to Chapel Hill later in the evening. 

The crash is still under investigation. 

About 60 cyclists are severely injured in crashes, and twenty people are killed while biking in North Carolina every year. About 1,000 people are hit by cars annually in the state while cycling, based on police records. 

Throughout the nation, 857 people were killed while biking in 2018. Many of these crashes are caused by drivers who are not cautious or alert. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration writes that bikes have the same right to use the road as cars do. Drivers are required to yield to bikes in the same way as they would be to cars. It is vital that motorists remember that bikes are able to travel fast and that it is important not to underestimate an approaching cyclist’s speed. 

When driving near a cyclist, motorists must give these more vulnerable road users plenty of space. It is important not to get too close to a bike while passing one. Another area where crashes often occur is when turning right. A cyclist may be approaching from behind a car, so drivers need to look before starting to take their turn. 

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 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.wwaytv3.com/2020/04/29/child-hit-while-riding-bicycle-in-oak-island-airlifted-to-chapel-hill/

http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/pbcat_nc/_bicycle.cfm

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