Comments on: LA Road Rage Doc Convicted for Horrific 2008 Cyclist Assault

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:52:10 +0000

I second rzu. Someone convicted of assault with a gun should be banned from owning guns, and someone convicted of assault using a car should be banned from driving one. Plus, it would be a beautiful irony if taking away the keys left bicycling as his best option to get around.

By: rzu

rzu — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:19:34 +0000

I hope his sentence involves permanent suspension of his driving privileges.

By: pylondude

pylondude — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:04:44 +0000

“Thompson passed cyclists Ron Peterson and Christian Stoehr as the pair rode through the emergency room surgeon’s upscale neighborhood”

I think that’s one of the most chilling things. This guy is an ER surgeon?!!

“Thompson told police on the scene that he was tired of cyclists in his neighborhood and wanted to “teach them a lesson.”"

I’ve heard that one before. That seems to be a common attitude among motorists who don’t believe cyclists should be on the road at all.

By: John Murphy

John Murphy — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:43:47 +0000

There was actually a similar incident on the bridge over Sand Hill Road in Palo Alto a few years back, a driver got upset with a group ride and pulled in front and brake checked the bunch. In that case a cyclist also went through the windshield and suffered serious injuries. The driver did not even get a ticket.

We’ll call this progress. There was also a case like this in Australia with a major group ride of professional cyclists, I’m not sure what the outcome there was.

By: SFResident

SFResident — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:30:16 +0000

Good. Assaulting a bicyclist, pedestrian, or even another driver with your car is no better than shooting a gun at them. These crimes need to be taken seriously and miscreants like this removed from the streets.