Driver rams cyclists in Arizona race, critically injuring 6

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

SHOW LOW, Ariz. (AP) — A driver in a pickup truck plowed into bicyclists competing in a community road race in Arizona on Saturday, critically injuring several riders before police chased down the driver and shot him outside a nearby hardware store, police said.

Six cyclists were taken to a hospital in critical condition after the crash in the mountain town of Show Low, about a three-hour drive northeast of Phoenix, police said. At least two others went to the hospital themselves.

The suspect, a 35-year-old man, also was hospitalized in critical but stable condition. The identities of the suspect and victims were not immediately released.

A Ford pickup truck struck the bicyclists about 7:25 a.m. in downtown Show Low during the annual 58-mile (93-kilometer) Bike the Bluff race, then fled, police said. Officers pursued the driver and tried to stop him before he was shot, authorities said.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/az-state-wire-arizona-police-abbe4e51dcb7de54b4e90f49a419fd19

[monkeyman1]

1. damn it ! didn't save tax payer's some money on keeping sob alive !!!

[lagomorph777]

21. I hope he ends up as a vegetable.

Or dies very slowly.

[Goonch]

2. Damn

[Deuxcents]

3. Cops losing their aim?

Forgive me.. but..some cops shoot for far less .. my only hope is this guy spends many years out of society.

[SWBTATTReg]

4. What in the hell is wrong w/ this thug? Pissed off perhaps because the bicycles took too long to go

through a traffic light or what? He got shot for his trouble, and he deserves it since he put so many others at risk w/ his reckless behavior. Throw the book at him, each of the six cyclists in critical condition deserves an attempted murder charge against this thug. All of the ones that were lucky in not getting hit or hit and injured w/ less severe injuries (but put in danger too when the others got hit) deserves attempted murder charges too, being that it was a simple fluke, that in one more second, they would have been hit too.

[Warpy]

5. Be interesting to find out what the tox screen showed

at that hour of the morning. My guess is that it will be very interesting.

[Probatim]

6. What tox screen picks up asshole? I'm pretty sure that was the issue here.

Maybe f*cking asshole.

[ArizonaLib]

7. I bet his social media & browsing history has it

These idiots in pick up trucks.

[Kali]

9. almost everybody in Show Low drives a truck

probably meth and/or alcohol

[Probatim]

17. Still no word on who this jackass is.

[Warpy]

8. Before I moved west, I might have said that

and might still if he'd just shot them. However, running away with a wheel and front forks stuck in his grill and not stopping for a sec to remove them makes me think meth and most likely still drunk from the night before.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Motorist plows through bicyclists Saturday morning

By Jim Headley Editor Jun 19, 2021 Updated 6 hrs ago

SHOW LOW — Show Low Police reports a 35-year-old man driving a pickup ran over a group of 40 to 50 bicyclists on the Deuce of Clubs about 7:25 a.m. Saturday.

Show Low Police are investigating a collision between a motor vehicle and multiple bicyclists participating in the Bike the Bluff event. It happened in front of Horne Collision Center.

The crash was also followed by a shooting several blocks west of the crash site.

Show Low Police Sgt. Brandon Clark said the pickup was traveling eastbound in the fast lane when it veered across the street and struck the group of bicyclists who were traveling westbound.

. . .

After fleeing the scene of the collision with the bicyclists, the driver of the truck was apparently involved in a shooting near Sylvester Street behind Ace Hardware in Show Low where he crashed the vehicle.

More:
https://www.wmicentral.com/motorist-plows-through-bicyclists-saturday-morning/article_ef3a13bf-7a4f-5b93-a604-121817c004cd.html

[AZLD4Candidate]

11. This has to be a road rage incident. There was nothing political about a bike race.

[jimlup]

12. Yes

Almost certainly.

As a cyclist it is seriously horrible news to hear. I ride on roads because my typical rides are around 30 miles so as a distance cyclist I have no choice. Ignorant people constantly bully me by honking while I am legitimately cycling on the road. Sometimes, they even yell at me to "get off the road." I know the law very well in my state (Michigan) and I have a right to the road. I wear bright colors, have lights and stay as far right as the surface allows but I still get bullied. Often it is pickup trucks, though I try not to discriminate against trucks because I know that many nice people drive pickups too.

The level of ignorance and rage at cyclists is concerning.

[alphafemale]

13. Well. Many governors are making it legal to plow through people who annoy you

So he may walk away free from this.

[Bayard]

14. Maybe he thought they were protesters

He veered across the road into the opposite lane to purposely hit them--attempted murder. Every cycling race or triathlon I've ever been around has cop cars blocking intersections. Sounds like he waited for an opening. Premeditated.

Surprised he didn't also wipe out spectators.

[SpankMe]

15. It figures

Show Low, Payson, Globe, and most of the area northeast of Phoenix in the mountains are full of right wingers. It's a beautiful area. But it's hardcore anti-progressive there. I remember seeing several large roadside billboards with pro G.W. Bush messages on them back in the day.

With so many conservatives in such an isolated area, I imagine mental illness is a factor there.

Conservatives are a criminal class. I've seen evidence of it when I was in college. In addition to pitying them, I also invite them to eat my ass like an Oreo cookie.

My thoughts, however, are with the injured cyclists. May they recover and hit the bikes again.

[Ptah]

16. the annual 58-mile (93-kilometer) Bike the Bluff race

Who benefits from my involvement?
Bike the Bluff will ultimately help benefit Mountain Christian School, a
K-8th grade school located in Show Low.





Mountain Christian School is an inter-denominational Christian school serving students from kindergarten through 8th grade. Excellence in education and solid spiritual values, taught in cooperation with the family are at the core of our program. Certified teachers, small class sizes and a strong Christian curriculum are the hallmarks of our program.

https://www.bikethebluff.com/about

[sarisataka]

19. Is this relevant

To why the cyclists were hit?

[Ptah]

20. Probably not.

[C Moon]

18. Years ago I was running in the bike lane, and some ahole in a pickup truck

steered his truck at me into the bike lane, made me jump on the sidewalk and then laughed as he drove off.

It always seems to be trucks or some sort. I guess they are weak people, and buy big vehicles and drive aggressive to make them feel bigger than they are.

The other bicyclists should have pulled him out of his truck and beat the daylights out of him. Bastard.

[IbogaProject]

22. He had multiple DUIs plead down to one

This guy had multiple DUIs and he took a plea deal for a single felony,

[link:https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/police-identify-man-who-drove-into-a-group-of-cyclists-saturday-vigil-scheduled/ar-AALhYyv|]

In 2010, three DUI-related charges, including having a third DUI, were dropped as part of an agreement where Chock pleaded guilty to felony aggravated DUI and shoplifting. He also pleaded no contest to aggravated assault.

Records show Chock was given probation in 2012 but violated the conditions of it in May 2013. According to court paperwork, Chock rejected a chance at continuing probation and requested prison time. He was sentenced to two years and eight months but got more than 280 days credit for time served before sentencing. Online Arizona Department of Corrections records indicates he went to prison in May 2013 but was paroled in October 2014.