Driver was untangling flip-flops when he killed bicyclist

[RamboLiberal]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A teen driver was distracted when his flip-flops got tangled with his truck's pedals, causing him to strike and kill a bicyclist last month in Indiana Township, Allegheny County homicide investigators said today.

-----

Donald Parker, 52, of Hampton, died May 27 after his bicycle was struck from behind by the boy's pickup truck as the two traveled up a steep grade on Harts Run Road near Dorseyville Road.

The boy told police he had been on his way to school at Fox Chapel High School when his flip-flops got tangled in the floor pedals.

The driver, while the truck still was moving, reached down to untangle his feet when the vehicle struck Mr. Parker, who had been riding near the berm ahead of the truck.

"The flip-flops caused a momentary distraction that took (the driver) to the berm, and he struck the bicyclist," said county police Lt. William Palmer.



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10162/1064915-100.stm#ixzz0qYZHKNKi

[hlthe2b]

1. Driving barefoot is illegal in many states.. Flip flops

probably should be as well... Of course, I could never imagine trying to drive with flip flops so perhaps this is a "ignorance of youth" thing?

[gratuitous]

2. That would be my guess

Real glad the young man took out a cyclist about my own age. Everyone do me a favor, and don't let Mrs. gratuitous see this story, okay? She worries enough as it is.

I remember being strictly told that I should never drive without properly shod feet: No barefoot driving, no sandals, no flip flops (we had another, less culturally-sensitive name for them in those days), or anything else that could get caught in the floor pedals. I don't know what is being taught in that vein nowadays. Hopefully this young person will have a lesson that stays with him for life (I have little doubt of that) and that he can spread the gospel of good shoes for driving to his peers (less hopeful of that, but maybe).

[enlightenment]

13. Me, too - and they should have added 'spike heeled shoes'

to that list. In my late teens, I avoided tragedy by sheer luck after getting the heel of my 4" spike heeled shoe stuck under the accelerator pedal. On the highway. Fortunately, it was very, very late at night and the road was all but deserted. Worst I could have done, probably, was kill myself.

I got lucky. And learned not to wear spike heels while driving.

[brendan120678]

3. Hmm...I occasionally drive barefoot when...

I have my sandals on, precisely because I don't want them to get caught up in the pedals.

[hlthe2b]

5. You better check on your state's laws on this...

or you could find yourself in deep kimchee, in the event of an accident.

[NoNothing]

4. Really?

Why in the world would driving barefoot be illegal?

[hlthe2b]

6. Because you have no traction on the pedals--even if feet are dry

making it easy to slide off and more difficult to control. I think pedals are made quite different now with some traction like features that make this as much an issue, but they can still charge you if they feel that was contributory to an accident.

[NoNothing]

7. I think that's silly

Rubber soles are far slippier than human skin.

In any case, fortunately, it looks like you are incorrect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot#Myths_and_urban_legends

[hlthe2b]

10. Really? From your own citation

"However, in some jurisdictions, police officers may ticket you for other things if the fact that you were driving barefoot or in flip flops/high heeled shoes hindered your driving and/or resulted in an accident.<10>"

[NoNothing]

15. Yes, you can be ticketed for driving unsafely

But driving barefoot is not automatically unsafe, and is not specifically prohibited. There is no law that says you cannot drive barefoot. So long as you are able to control your vehicle, it is legal. You specifically said that driving barefoot is illegal in many states, and it appears that is not true.

[Codeine]

8. I would place the grippiness of a bare foot

well ahead of that of any shoe but a tennis/athletic-style shoe. Certainly more than any dress shoe.

[hlthe2b]

11. I'd certainly agree on the slick bottom dress shoes/pumps

[Codeine]

9. One more reason to hate flip-flops.

Seriously, they're the Footwear of Failure. :evilgrin:

[hlthe2b]

12. I had an acquaintance who would intentionally step on the feet

of those wearing flip flops. He was a pretty surly old soul anyway, but it made me pretty damned reluctant to wear other than closed toed shoes..;)

[Javaman]

16. I had some guy argue with me over the benefits of flip flops

on the feet and back. I asked him how old he was, he said, "24". I laughed and said, "keep wearing them and get back to me in 20 years, then tell me how your feet and back are". LOL

[yowzayowzayowza]

18. Worn & driven with flops for over a quarter centry...

Never had a prob.

:shrug:

[Javaman]

19. then you are either a miricale of human design or your back just hasn't given out yet. nt

[yowzayowzayowza]

20. er it could be congenital as my brother works, lives and drives in flops too. n/t

[Javaman]

21. I would like to think it's a miracle of human design...

it sounds neater. LOL

Cheers! :)

[hlthe2b]

14. This is the epitome of a general interest issue...

Do people not wear flip-flops outside of Pennsylvania?

I wish we could refrain from the constant moving of posts that are not clearly non-GD material. :shrug:

[wisteria]

17. What a tragedy. n/t

[happyslug]

22. Is this Homicide by vehicle?

§ 3732. Homicide by vehicle.
(a) Offense.--Any person who recklessly or with gross negligence causes the death of another person while engaged in the violation of any law of this Commonwealth or municipal ordinance applying to the operation or use of a vehicle or to the regulation of traffic except section 3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) is guilty of homicide by vehicle, a felony of the third degree, when the violation is the cause of death.
(b) Sentencing.--
(1) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) may be sentenced to an additional term not to exceed five years' confinement if at trial the prosecution proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the offense occurred in an active work zone as defined in section 102 (relating to definitions).
(2) The prosecution must indicate intent to proceed under this section in the indictment or information which commences the prosecution.
(3) The Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 2154 (relating to adoption of guidelines for sentencing), shall provide for a sentencing enhancement for an offense under this section when the violation occurred in an active work zone as defined in section 102.

http://law.onecle.com/pennsylvania/vehicles/00.037.032.000.html

§ 3714. Careless driving.
(a) General rule.--Any person who drives a vehicle in careless disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of careless driving, a summary offense.
(b) Unintentional death.--If the person who violates this section unintentionally causes the death of another person as a result of the violation, the person shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $500.
(c) Serious bodily injury.--If the person who violates this section unintentionally causes the serious bodily injury of another person as a result of the violation, the person shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $250.
(d) Definition.--As used in this section, "serious bodily injury" means any bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.

http://law.onecle.com/pennsylvania/vehicles/00.037.014.000.html