Bullhead, Nicut (7/1/2009 8:40:43 AM)

I'll be the first to ask, "Where are the parents?" It says boy. To me this means 10 years old? 12 years olf? How sad.

SraChavez, Tulsa (7/1/2009 8:47:03 AM)

I'll be next to ask. But, in addition to that, is there a curfew for 16 year olds in BA. And, what is that. Although, the driver could have been leaving from a summer job. I hope the boy is going to be OK.

You just wish, Tulsa (7/1/2009 8:56:30 AM)

Who, what, where, why, when, and how old? Okay, the what, where, when are answered. And I agree completely with the "where were the parents?" comment. At 11:30 the temperature was probably cool enough, but he should have been riding (if at all) with traffic, with a light AND a reflective garment on. Better not to ride at all at night unless it's on a dedicated bike path. Just tragic. Thus proving the saying, "It only takes once."

Bedazzled, (7/1/2009 9:08:48 AM)

what Bullhead said.

Eric, Tulsa (7/1/2009 9:09:50 AM)

...

VERY sad report...hope the child survives and goes on to have a good quality of life.
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In agreement with the first three posts.

I know that hospitals protect patients privacy, but it seems as though the age of the victim could have been safely released to the public.

Also - why was the boy riding against the traffic?
I wonder if he even had lights on his bike or wearing reflective or light-colored clothing (as if it would have mattered much to an oncoming vehicle.

The drivers age and possible curfew issue is something that the Tulsa World should have questioned and reported on at the get-go.

Parents for both the cyclist and driver...well, I can't say enough.
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..
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Twilight in Paris, near the water in SE OK (7/1/2009 9:20:05 AM)

Why was the boy riding so late?

Don't 16 year olds have a limit on night driving? (They can't drive later then 10pm in MA)

Why on earth weren't the parents with the boy?

Was the boy wearing reflective clothing?

So many questions...please answer them!

SS_Hippy, Tulsa (7/1/2009 9:34:25 AM)

This is so sad

Tulsa World Web Reporter, Tulsa (7/1/2009 9:34:30 AM)

Good morning,

The boy riding the bicycle was not identified at the scene as according to the most recent reports available, has not been identified yet. Thus, the medics only have an estimate of the boy's age.

I have updated the story to reflect that.

out here in the middle, Sand Springs (7/1/2009 9:42:50 AM)

I struck a child on a bicycle at night last year. Fortunately for him, I was also on my bicycle, so he was uninjured.
It was winter, the time was about 6:30pm, and it was pitch black. He was riding on a busy residential street, on a dark bike, with black clothes, a cammo hat, and no reflectors or lights on his bike. I was riding as I normally do, with lots of lighting. I turned into his path, and didn't see him until the last second. I was thrown from my bike, smashed my work laptop computer that was in my bag, and ruined a $200 wheel.
As busy as that intersection was, if I had not hit him with my bike, a car would have hit him, and he would not have lived to tell about it.
I see riders, runners, and walkers at night all the time, no reflective clothing, no lights, etc. They think because they can see fine, and react quickly enough, everyone else can too, and that just isn't the case, especially when it comes to automobiles.
The boy in this case was doing everything wrong, from what the report says. Riding late at night with no reflective gear or lighting, riding against traffic instead of with it.
My prayers are with these two boys. I can still see the face of that kid I hit last year--I can imagine the 16 year old driver is the same way.

Bubba in Glenpool, (7/1/2009 9:57:59 AM)

I'm going to give the parents the benefit of doubt and assume that the 16yr old sneaked out or had plans to stay with a friend. For the other 16 yr old, hopefully a summer job and just going home, but it could've been a 30 yr. old to hit the kid, you can't really blame the driver that much.

Condolences to all involved.

Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (7/1/2009 10:05:54 AM)

I really don't have the right to question the parents or kids as I was a latchkey kid with 4 siblings. Our parents got home at dark 40. Many were the late nights when a bus from Putnam City would return back to the school after 11 PM after an away match or game. I got used to walking home alone and dodging the weirdos and police. That was in 7th grade. Once we started driving, they didn't ask questions as long as they didn't get calls by the police or school. I guess it worked as my family is now all over this globe. If you don't create limits there are none later.

FS, Broken Arrow (7/1/2009 10:21:02 AM)

I was coming in from work (nights) around 11:30 pm a week ago and saw a small glint - thought it was some kind of critter on the road, watched and slowed a bit. Turned out to be two kids on bicycles who were riding all over the road - looked like they got into momma's wine cabinet.

JLB, Tulsa (7/1/2009 11:32:08 AM)

I hope everything works out for all involved. Technically though, the teen was thrown, not ejected.

owen, Tulsa (7/1/2009 11:37:03 AM)

I hope they find the parents soon. Another suggestion--bikers, always carry some ID, please.

Arbythree, Tulsa (7/1/2009 11:37:26 AM)

Or projected.

lucky girl, mine (7/1/2009 11:44:58 AM)

Poor kids, both of them. They will never be the same, hopefully a little more careful, but well, ya know.

ajohnb, Jenks (7/1/2009 12:19:26 PM)

what LittleFoot said

Ric, Broken Arrow (7/1/2009 12:23:45 PM)

Was the bike equipped with lights and reflectors? It's dangerous to be riding bicycles on streets and highways.

Few Clothes, Austin, TX (7/1/2009 12:26:49 PM)

Wow! So many questions without any further information. Try to wait until the story is updated.

M_Conners, Tulsa (7/1/2009 12:58:20 PM)

He was probably sneaking out of his parents house to visit his girlfriend...i hope he is okay.

Mich098, Tulsa (7/1/2009 1:55:27 PM)

Why do people always think first and foremost of placing blame? This is a accidental tragedy and my thoughts go out to the boys and their families.

And for those of you always wanting to place blame and judge people, change churches!

CycleDog, Owasso (7/1/2009 3:58:50 PM)

The legislature changed the lighting law for bicycles a couple of years ago. If you're on a street with a speed limit of 25mph or less, you don't need lights. Reflectors, yes, but not lights. My opinion - it was a stupid change.

Apparently this young man was riding against traffic, one of the worst things to do at any time of day, but particularly dangerous at night. Motorists do not look for bicyclists coming the wrong way especially at intersections. We're conditioned to look everywhere EXCEPT directly to our right. That's another reason to avoid riding on sidewalks.

Pastor Rich, Tulsa (7/1/2009 4:32:57 PM)

I am a friend of this young man and his mother. He is currently in St. Francis hospital with head injuries and other serious injuries, but he will live through this.

His mom is a single mother with 2 other children, of which her 7-year-old daughter has also been in the hospital for almost 2 weeks due to an illnes.

This 14-year-old young man had snuck out of the hous last night after just getting home from a family trip to Illinois. His mom had no clue he was in the hospital until the police called this morning. She thought he was in bed. The young man is very troubled and his mom is struggling very hard to make ends meet. On top of it all her daughter is also in the hospital and she was recently evicted from her home. She now lives in an apt. in BA.

Please pray for this woman and her kids. She needs all the help she can get.

52favoriteteacher, Washburn--used to be Broken Arrow (7/1/2009 5:49:27 PM)

Pastor

Does this woman have a name?

I realize the Lord he knows about her need.

Always good to lift up a person by name tho...

Lord Jesus,

Help these young and not so smart men who were hurt in a late night accident.
Help the parents to cope and heal the young people's bodies.

We give you praise and thanks because we know you will do what we ask.Your word tells us so--- where 2 or 3 are gathered...

In Jesus Christ Holy Name I Pray.

Amen

owen, Tulsa (7/1/2009 6:34:03 PM)

Thank you, Pastor Rich. My prayers will go out for this family.