Cyclist remains in critical condition
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on December 24, 2006 2:03 AM
A Wayne County man remains in critical condition after being involved in an accident earlier this month in Greene County.,
Dave Galloway, a member of the Seyboro Cyclists bicycling club, was badly injured Dec. 14 when he collided head-on with a vehicle at the intersection of Hull Road and Wheat Swamp roads.
Galloway, 55, was air-lifted to Pitt Memorial Hospital with multiple injuries. His wife, Kay, said he will have to undergo several more surgeries before rehabilitation can begin.
Friends and fellow cyclists say Galloway's accident underscores the need for increased awareness of bicyclists by many drivers. Galloway was a defensive-minded rider, they said. Moreover, in his job as program director for the state Motorcycle Safety Education program, he is acutely aware of the need for highway safety.
Bicycle riders need to remembers that the same laws that apply to motorists apply to them, club members said. Bicycles should travel in the same direction as traffic. Riders should always wear a helmet, no matter how short the trip, and bright clothing. Riders also should ride in a straight line and try to avoid swerving. Bikes should use lights at night, white at front and red at back, and riders should wear reflective clothing.
Meanwhile, they said, motorists need exercise caution around bikers. They should slow down and not tailgate, recognizing the hazards that bikers face and give them a little extra room. Bicycles legally deserve the same rights-of-way as vehicles. When passing a bicyclists, drivers should give the rider at least three feet of space and look back over their shoulder before re-entering the lane. Drivers should avoid blowing their horn in close proximity to bicyclists, look for them when opening car or truck doors, and be especially careful around young bicyclists, who might not know traffic laws as well as adults.
Friends have established a "Dave Galloway Recovery Fund" at the Community Federal Credit Union at 2401 East Ash Street and donations are also being collected at Bicycle World on East Ash Street. The money will be used to help defray medical expenses.
Galloway's recovery will take a long time, his wife conceded. But she said his excellent physical condition is helping.
"That is what has got him through this," she said.