Russian Woman Denied the Right to the Road in Mason County?

[XLFD]

The blurb on page 1 of the Ludington Daily News on Monday told a weird story:

 

"A 21 year old Russian woman is in fair condition at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids this morning after being struck by a tow truck early Sunday near the Mason County Fairgrounds.

According to a report from the Mason County Sheriff's Office, Alisa Aleksandrovana Sidorenko, 21, of Yekaterinberg, Russia was riding westbound on US 10 in the roadway near a line of fog and was struck by a wrecker driven by James Brynelson, 30, of Custer, which was also traveling westbound.  According to the report, the shoulder is paved in that area but Sidorenko was riding on the roadway.

Sidorenko was transported by Aeromed to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids.  She was in fair condition this morning." 

 

So they were both heading west, the tow truck hit the bicyclist from behind when the bicyclist was riding west legally on this two lane road, causing serious enough injuries for Aeromed to be used-- and the tow truck driver is not even cited for fault?  Was this because the bicyclist was using the road when a paved shoulder was available?  That's what the police report indicates. 

 

This happened just after midnight, so it was dark; but the streetlights in that area negate any sort of "I didn't see them!" defense, even if she was not riding without lights, which isn't indicated.  The report seems to indicate, however, that she should have been riding on the shoulder.  But anyone who has ever rode on the shoulders of that section know you have to go over curbs continually and let's negate the notion that bicycles do not have a right to the road, even when there is dangerous shoulders or sidewalks available  MCL 257.657.  Why deprive a Russian lady, who historically has been deprived of so many rights, a basic right we should all honor?

 

So why are we giving a pass to a tow truck driver who crashes into a bicycle from behind and nearly kills the bicyclist?  That's what I am going to find out, and maybe if I am successful in getting this rider's right to the road vindicated, I might just have a new appreciative 21 year old Russian woman who also rides bicycle in this county.