Trooper at fault in accident?

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
September 3, 2008

This morning's paper carried an article about the death of a 26-year-old Johnsburg man on a bicycle trip in Kentucky. After reading the article and being appalled at the cocky statement of the spokesman of the Kentucky State Police, I attempted to get more information from the local newspaper in London, Ky.

I've driven through the London area many times. I remember it as an area whether local police and sheriff's deputies pay no attention to speed limits, and I have reported speeding violations to local departments, including the London Police Department.

Sunday's accident killed one bicyclist and injured a second. The comment that got my attention? "We don't get disciplined for things that are beyond our control," said Kentucky State Police spokesman Don Trosper, who also commented that the KSP had not completed its accident investigation.

Trooper Christopher Roberts was apparently enroute to a non-emergency call, when he swerved to avoid hitting the car in front of him. In so doing, he hit the two bicyclists. Well, duh! If he swerved to avoid hitting the car in front of him, he did not have his vehicle under control. This is a traffic violation that resulted in a fatality and an injury.

The Northwest Herald did not report the time of the accident, only that it was "late Sunday." To me, "late" means the later part of the evening, when it of course would have been dark. Bicycle lighting would be an important factor, but few bicycle lights are bright enough to alert a driver on a highway with other traffic to the presence of bicyclists.

Spokesman Trosper was far too quick to decide that the trooper was not at fault.

Will Northwest Herald reporter Crystal Lindell follow this story and report more details of the accident? And whether Trooper Roberts is cited in this accident?