Two Wheels is Just as Important
By CRA News Service
BOCA RATON – Three people were killed in traffic related crashes in the city this past week and all of them were either riding a motorcycle or a bicycle.
The fatalities are indicative of Florida statistics, which shows that Florida has, one of if not, the highest bicycle death rate in the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report about bicycle deaths in Florida four years ago, that found there were 0.57 deaths per 100,000 people between 2008 and 2012, the latest statistics available. In comparison, Delaware, the state with the second highest total, recorded a rate of only 0.38.
To add even more concern, Florida’s cyclist death rate decreased by less than 10 percent from the last period the statistic was measured, which was more than three decades ago and less than other states.
The first crash occurred Friday, Feb. 12, in front of Patch Reef Park in the 2000 block of West Yamato Road.
Alan Curtis, 84, was riding his bicycle along West Yamato Road when Tanya Rolleri, 37, of Boca Raton, who was driving a 2016 Audi, struck the bicycle as he attempted to cross the road, police said.
Curtis, of Boca Raton, died at Delray Medical Center.
The following morning, at 9:30 a.m., the second fatality occurred in front of Red Reef Park in the 1200 block of North Ocean Boulevard.
Vladimir Kamenarovic, of Pompano Beach, was southbound on his 2007 Triumph motorcycle when the 2007 Honda Pilot, driven by Colleen Peery, driving in front of him tried to make a left turn into the park, police said.
Kamenarovic, 43, crashed into the front driver door of the Honda, and was thrown from the motorcycle, police said. He died shortly after at Delray Medical Center.
Peery, 59, was not hurt.
Later that night the third person was killed at the intersection of on West Yamato Road and Northwest Second Avenue.
David Sansom, of Boca Raton, was driving his scooter northbound in the southbound traffic lanes of Northwest Second Avenue shortly after 8:30 p.m. when he collided with a 2011 BMW 328in driven by Edgar Sanchez Hernandez.
Hernandez, 76, of Boca Raton, was westbound.
Sansom, 67, died at the scene, police said.
As of press time, no charges were filed in any of the crashes.
