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Struck while highway riding

This Q and A is with Calgarian Steve Brand, who was struck by a vehicle while riding with three friends on a rural road recently.

Q. Can you describe, as best you can considering the outstanding legal issues, what happened when you were hit by a vehicle on the highway?

A. We were travelling southbound on 37st SW towards 22X on our way to ride (which was) 130km for the day and wanted to include the Hills to Nepal as part of the route (note: this is a popular routes south of the city). We were riding single file along the right hand side of the road. The shoulder there is very narrow, if not non-existent so we were trying to ride close to the white line. Traffic was not heavy, but we were passed a few times.

Along a straight portion of the road, with a slight descent, we were riding at ~40km/hr when a passing vehicle, also southbound, drifted into us as he passed us at about 80km/hr. I was in the front of the three rider paceline when I was hit resulting in my head impacting the passenger side front windshield. I was thrown forward and into the ditch on the right where I rolled to a stop down the road in the ditch. My friends were also knocked off their bikes and skidded to a stop along the asphalt and gravel.

We were taken by ambulance to the Foothills hospital. Fortunately no broken bones. I did not even have a concussion in spite of my head hitting the windshield at (more than) 40 km/hr velocity delta.

To date, we continue to recover. I’m receiving physio a couple times per week and gradually building back up to where I can ride 100km on multiple days. My road bike is not road worthy at the moment and we are seeking a property settlement in due course to rectify the situation.