East-end cyclist hit by van was wearing headphones, police say

Posted: May 08, 2009, 12:39 PM by Rob Roberts
By Wu Yun, National Post

A teenage cyclist wearing headphones instead of a helmet was badly injured when he turned into the path of a van on Coxwell Avenue last night.
“It may have been that he didn’t actually hear the van going past him at the time,’’ said Sergeant Tim Burrows. “If you can’t hear the outside world ... you lose a really big part of the information you need as a road user.”
The 19-year-old man was riding north on Coxwell at 11:07 p.m. when he made a left turn into the path of a GMC Safari van and was struck, police said.
He was sent to St. Michael’s Hospital with life-threatening head and upper-body injuries, but he has improved and is expected to live.Sgt. Burrows, who said cyclists and pedestrians ‘‘have to be really alert and aware of our surroundings,’’ also noted a helmet may have protected the cyclist.
“Although he is not at the age where helmets are mandatory for cycling, studies have shown that wearing a helmet can reduce head injuries.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).