 |
 Ottawa police survey wrecked bicycles and scattered debris from a hit-and-run along more than 100 metres of March Rd. after five cyclists were seriously injured Sunday, July 19, 2009. (DARREN BROWN/Sun Media) |
OTTAWA - Five cyclists struck by a minivan during an early morning ride in the city’s west end Sunday remained in serious condition in hospital Sunday night.
“For some of them, things aren’t looking as good as they did earlier in the day,” said Julie Hakim, a friend of the group and a fellow cyclist. “At this point, we’re just waiting to see what happens.”
Hakim was supposed to spend Sunday cycling with Robert Wein, 36, Mark White, Rob Harland, Hilary McNamee, 27, and Cathy Anderson, 45. White and Harland are believed to be in their 30s. Instead, she spent the day at the Ottawa Hospital’s Civic campus trauma centre, where four of the cyclists were taken after the crash. Anderson was taken to the Queensway-Carleton.
Wein was the most seriously injured in the crash, which occurred around 7:50 a.m. on March Rd. in Kanata near Solandt Rd., Hakim said. He suffered severe brain trauma and hadn’t regained consciousness as of last night. Hakim said Wein also suffered severe rectal injuries due to the force of the seat being pressed against his body in the crash.
A van believed to have been involved in the crash fled the scene just as an off-duty city bylaw officer came upon the scene. Just before noon, a man turned himself in to police in Kanata and his vehicle was seized. No charges were laid in the crash as of late Sunday night.
Anderson’s left arm was badly fractured, Hakim said.
|
“The top bone in her arm shattered and it was no longer attached to the bottom bone when they got to her,” said Hakim.
“But she was pretty lucid at the hospital, so it doesn’t look as if she suffered any serious brain trauma.”
Harland suffered significant leg and hip injuries but appears to have escaped serious brain trauma.
“Cathy said she remembers riding along and getting hit by something,” said Hakim. “The next thing she remembers is waking up and a paramedic was with her.”
Ottawa Paramedics superintendent of operations Darryl Wilton said all the cyclists were wearing the correct protective gear, including helmets, but the force of the impact had devastating consequences.
“In these types of situations, it’s not surprising to see head injuries,” said Wilton. “The helmets are protective, but they shatter, which is what they’re supposed to do. In the case of one of the patients, the helmet split right in half.”
Wilton said a paramedic was also treated at the scene after he got blood in his eyes.
When paramedics arrived on the scene, all five cyclists were unconscious and bicycles, clothing and shoes were scattered over an area 120 metres long.
Sunday afternoon, collision specialists from the Ottawa Police were attempting to reconstruct the crash, laying down orange cones and markers amid the debris and blood stains.
The crash has left friends and family members shaken.
“We’re just praying for them all,” said Ora Paul, McNamee’s grandmother. “Everyone’s just anxious to hear they’re going to be okay.”
The group cycles together every weekend, Hakim said, and she had planned to ride with the group but was late getting started. She said she had a sinking feeling when she finally came upon the accident.
“It was a shock,” said Hakim. “I was supposed to be with them.”