$10,000 Reward Offered in Purported Hit-and-Run on GW Parkway
Injured cyclist and Old Town attorney seek driver of gold Cadillac in Oct. 9 incident.
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A cyclist who was injured on the George Washington Parkway Oct. 9 after a purported hit-and-run incident has teamed up with a lifelong friend to offer a $10,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the driver.
On Sunday morning, Oct. 9, Alexandria resident Phil Hepburn was riding his bicycle with friends on the George Washington Parkway. A driver in a gold Cadillac drove in front of the group, witnesses said, and reportedly braked sharply. Hepburn went under the car and ended up with a broken hip, according to James Turner, an Old Town attorney and hunting buddy of Hepburn's for the past 30 years. Witnesses said the driver then fled the scene.
Phone calls and e-mails from Patch to Parkway police about the incident have gone unanswered. Fairfax County Police have deferred calls to Parkway police since the incident occured on the parkway.
"They [Parkway police] haven't been following up on this at all," said Turner.
Turner and Hepburn are offering the $10,000 reward. Turner is creating flyers that report a Virginia license plate number of either "IVP" or "JVY" for a gold or bronze Cadillac, possibly a four-door.
The flyer describes the driver as an older white male with gray/white hair.
Anyone with information should contact Turner at (703) 836-3400.
Meanwhile Hepburn is recovering from his injuries, Turner said. "He has to lie in a special bed. He has screws in his hip. He's not permitted to put weight on his leg for three months."
Cycling on the George Washington Parkway is prohibited.
Mark Blacknell
11:10 am on Friday, November 18, 2011
Glad to see this. If the NPS Park Police haven't been following up, that's shameful.
Mike Kelly
2:39 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
So, Mr. Hepburn and his friends were breaking the law and while illegally bicycling on the GW Parkway, a gold Cadillac stops suddenly and Mr. Hepburn rear ends the Cadillac and injures himself. The reason the National Park Service bans bicycles on the Parkway is because it is unsafe. Unfortunately, too many arrogant bicyclists ignore the law and create a hazard for everyone who drives the parkway. I'm sorry to hear that Mr. Hepburn is in the hospital, but I hope the Park Police have cited Mr. Hepburn and his friends for their illegal behavior. Maybe other cyclists will pay attention and follow the law.
H. Jay Spiegel
6:38 am on Saturday, November 19, 2011
Mr Kelly: Your reading comprehension and command of the facts are somewhat deficient. The vehicle stopping wasn't happinstance, it was an intentional act. Your comment implies that Mr. Hepburn is to blame for his grievous injuries. That's analogous to you crossing the street outside a crosswalk, being hit by a car and being blamed for your injuries. The fact that the cyclists were not supposed to be biking on the GWP doesn't give someone the right to try to kill them. I hope you never get killed as the penalty for breaking a minor traffic law.
carol
7:08 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011
I agree with you Mike. Mr Spiegel, were you IN the vehicle? So you know for a fact that the driver didn't spill coffee on his lap and needed to stop quickly. OR, you know for a fact that something didn't cross in front of him causing him to slam on his brakes. AND, you know for a fact that the bicyclist wasn't following the car too closely....like the article said, the driver braked sharply causing the bicyclist to fall under the car. How many seconds would it have taken for that bike to hit the car? AND the article said the driver had grey/white hair....elderly? If so, I doubt he even knows someone flew under his car. (not an excuse and you're right, he shouldn't be driving if this is the case...but it happens so save your breath) Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty in this country? Has anyone actually given thought that this might have been an A-C-C-I-D-E-N-T? @Liz, "attempted murder"?? Really? @Nancy, "lunatic"?? You guys have this guy guilty and hung already! If the bikes had been obeying the law in the first place this never would have happened. Bicyclist are so quick to blame a car if they break the law....and now still when the bicyclist has broken the law. Hmmm. By the way, I am a bicyclist. I commute to DC for work..on my bike. I have been a two-wheeler for 15 years. I obey the law. And I am so tired of fellow bicyclists jumping all over someone at the first chance they get, without the facts FIRST.
H. Jay Spiegel
6:40 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011
Carol, you are equally ignorant as is Mr. Kelly. The facts are, from one of the cyclists who happens to be a friend and client and is quite credible: They were riding north from the Mount Vernon estate. As they approached the bridge over Little Hunting Creek from the south, the car in question approached from the north and swerved way into the northbound lane just missing the cyclists. They continued north - just south of Collingwood Road, the same car came up on the cyclists from behind, swerved in front of them and slammed on the brakes.Luckily, only one cyclist slid under the car and was almost killed. The others turned sharply and went around the car. Then the driver accelerated, turned left on Collingwood and escaped at a high rate of speed. Eyewitnesses saw the car speeding down Collingwood. I own a bicycle but don't use it much. I agree that cyclists shouldn't be on the GWP, but I also don't condone attempted murder which is what this incident amounts to. I also question the judgment of those who would use this criminal act as the "vehicle" to raise the cyclists on the GWP issue. Yes they were wrong; no, they shouldn't be summarily executed for it by a vigilante.
Mike Kelly
12:58 am on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Mr. Spiegel: You are accusing me of a lack of reading comprehension and not knowing the facts when, in fact, NONE of the facts you mention were in the article. So PLEASE don't attack me with your vicious comments. I certainly would not condone an attempted murder, but that WASN'T in the article. However, that notwithstanding, bicycling on the parkway is illegal and dangerous. There's a path that runs along the parkway for bicycles, one which I use regularly. Regardless of your insults, bicycling on the parkway IS a central issue to all of us who live off the parkway. Between tour buses and blind curves, a bicycle on the parkway has always been and will always be hazardous AND is illegal. And it is not the same as jaywalking as you purport. All you need to do is read the Virginia motor vehicle code. § 46.2-800. Riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, or mopeds; riding or driving animals.
Every person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, or an animal or driving an animal on a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter and shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, unless the context of the provision clearly indicates otherwise.
MSandyDogg
1:16 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Mr. Kelly, unlike Mr. Spiegel I don't question your intelligence and command of the facts -- I wonder about your basic humanity. Whether or not the driver unintentionally hit the bicyclist -- and whether the bicyclist was in the road illegally or not -- doesn't explain away a violent crime -- in this case, hit and run. Hitting another human being with a car and fleeing the scene is irresponsible, immoral and, most relevant to this discussion, illegal. Mr. Spiegel offered an analogy, but let me offer another: You're driving 55 MPH down the parkway, instead of the posted 45 limit. As you're passing a vehicle, the enraged driver pulls a gun and shoots at you. Would you dismiss this as a nonenforceable crime simply because you had violated a posted law? ("Well, that's what I get for driving fast.") Shooting is neither a legal nor reasonable response to speeding, nor is hit-and-run an acceptable response for violating (loosely enforced) no-biking rules.
H. Jay Spiegel
7:39 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Mr. Kelly, my comment concerning your lack of reading comprehension concerned the article as published. The additional facts I provided, which were later confirmed by Mr. Turner were provided in response to the series of rhetorical questions posed by "carol." In your retort on November 22nd, you did the same thing that concerned me about your original posting - you again skipped over the heinous crime of cutting in front of the cyclists and braking sharply, and focused on the admittedly illegal act of riding a bicycle on the GWP. Since that subject interests you, why don't you write a column for the Patch on it, separate and apart from the story about a bicyclist who was almost killed by an illegal act in no way justifiable under any circumstances.
carol
9:12 pm on Saturday, November 26, 2011
Mr Spiegel, I'm curious:
".....about a bicyclist who was almost killed by an illegal act in no way justifiable under any circumstances."
To which "illegal act" are you referring? The one in which the bicyclists broke the law by illegally riding on the GW Parkway where it is prohibited or the one where a car stopped abruptly in front of the bicyclists, where they were riding illegally, then sped away. Hmmmmm.
This is a no-win conversation. Both are guilty but the fact remains, the bikes shouldn't have been there in the first place. When a car breaks the law bicyclists are all over that driver, like white on rice. But when a bicyclist breaks the law it's defend, defend, defend. I have yet to read any admittance in this conversation that the bikes were in the wrong. Will those bicyclists be recieving tickets???? Hmmmm.
carol
9:18 pm on Saturday, November 26, 2011
And Mr. Spiegel, you called me ignorant...just BEFORE you listed the additional details of this article. Mr. Kelly and I were only commenting on the facts that were given to us at the time. Your name calling is inappropriate and uncalled for and a direct reflection of you, which makes me now question the credibility of your "facts".
Nancy Duley
7:50 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
Too many arrogant drivers taking law into own hands also create a hazard. It was a cowardly, anonymous act to run away. Here's the flyer: http://twitpic.com/7frg0u. I don't bike on the GW Parkway, but I do ride in the neighborhoods. God forbid this lunatic decides I shouldn't be on a side street.
Liz
7:38 am on Saturday, November 19, 2011
Dont the cops have a database to look up make, model, and plate numbers? They need to take this more seriously. It's like attempted murder.
Jeff Lemieux
8:28 am on Sunday, November 20, 2011
Cops don't take violent crime against cyclists or pedestrians seriously. Now, if the guy had slammed on his brakes to deliberately cause a crash of another car, either out of road rage or for insurance fraud, there would be a big investigation. Another dead bike rider or pedestrian? No big deal.
The comments implying this was justified violence because of the new NPS rule prohibiting bikes are pretty sad. When I'm riding my bike, I don't go postal on drivers who illegally text, or speed, or run red lights. I don't attack pedestrians who illegally jaywalk. Those guys have been using that road for decades to get to training areas. The NPS rule is discriminatory. Road bullies don't need any more encouragement.
Steve O
1:34 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011
@Mike Kelly
Riding on the GW Parkway is not the least unsafe most of the time. On Sundays and lower use times, there is more than plenty of room for both cars and cyclists to share the space. This can be attested to by the fact that cyclists have been using the Parkway literally for decades with virtually no incidents. This particular ride was made unsafe not by the fact that they were on the Parkway, but by the fact that a crazed criminal in a car attacked them with a deadly weapon (his car). What he did is no different than if he had pulled up next to them and shot at them with a gun.
The driver left the scene of an accident in which there was an injured party. There is never a legal justification for doing that, regardless of whether others' actions are legal, illegal, stupid, crazy or anything. One must always remain at the scene until police arrive and can sort things out.
Similar to the Metro, it may make sense to prohibit cyclists from the GWP during the most congested times. That makes sense. However, on a Sunday morning, cyclists create no obstacle at all, because cars can merely move over to the center lane to pass them. At most they may need to slow down for a couple of seconds to find an opening. Most of the time, however, they would be able to switch lanes and pass without any pause at all. There is plenty of room for both.
Nancy Duley
4:28 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011
This case is very similar to one that happened in California a few years ago: Doctor sentenced to 5 years in prison for assaulting bicyclists in Brentwood http://lat.ms/7KHzfd.
It is very troubling that the NPS has not been following-up on this. A number of years ago there was an incident near Belle Haven Boulevard between two drivers, one of them driving off. Somehow the NPS was able to track down the driver of the fleeing vehicle.
Nancy Duley
12:01 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
I wrote to the Mount Vernon District Station of Fairfax County Police with a link to this article and the reward flyer. Lieutenant Michael L. Wall e-mailed me back and let me know he will reach out to U.S. Park Police to see if they have any additional leads or if they can use Fairfax County assistance with their investigation. Once he verifies the details, he can ensure his officers are aware of the vehicle and partial license plate information so they can look out for vehicles matching the description.
james turner
6:18 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
I wanted to say THANK YOU for all the responses we have received on the Poster on the Hit and Run of a bicyclist. For the record, it was intentional and malicious. I received a response from another bike rider that was attacked in the same manner by a "cadillac". Mr. Speigel is correct in his review. To suggest someone deserves to be attacked by a car is ridiculous. We have a very credible i.d. on the tag and I am contacting Lt. Wall. Thank you Nancy Dudley. Happy Thanksgiving.
Cookie
5:58 pm on Friday, November 25, 2011
There is a car like that in the Mount Vernon, Mt. Zephyr or between Fort Hunt Road and Mt. Vernon. I saw a car simliar travelling a high rate of speed down Fort Hunt Road in Alexandria. An older gray haired man drives that car. It is unique as there are just about no others like that in this area. Not saying that is the vehicle but a starting point. Surely the police could look into that area even with a parcel tag. I will continue to look for it. I sometimes see it in my travels but not often. I wish the gentleman a speedy recovery.
Cookie
6:03 pm on Friday, November 25, 2011
Also, there was a similar vehicle and person it is believed that served as neighborhood watch in the Mt. Vernon area. Just saying--similar.
H. Jay Spiegel
9:48 pm on Saturday, November 26, 2011
"Carol" I'd be happy to debate you but as a practice I don't debate those who hide behind the anonymity of the internet. Please let us know your full name & I'll be happy to debate a person who appears to equate the minor traffic violation of someone biking on the GWP with someone trying to kill them. Concerning my credibility, (1) James Turner confirmed that I have the facts correct, and (2) anonymous internet posters have no standing to question anyone's credibility.
Nancy Duley
8:53 pm on Sunday, November 27, 2011
I have been in touch with Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) and they are also assisting. They have posted this to their Facebook page and blog http://bit.ly/vX0BoD. They have also been in contact with Congressman Moran's office and an inquiry has been made with NPS.
Nancy Duley
7:00 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
Last week I wrote to GWMP_Superintendent@nps.gov and heard back today (from Dottie P. Marshall, Park Superintendent) that my e-mail had been forwarded to U.S. Park Police.
John P
2:36 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wow, as a bike commuter who lives just off Collingwood Road, I find this very disturbing and I take it personally for 2 reasons. One is, of course, that I ride daily in the Fort Hunt area. Another is the fact that my wife was run over by a motorist while she was walking across Sherwood Hall Road back in May. This motorist sounds like a real sicko and needs to be taken of the road immediately. I intend to spend a few hours this weekend looking for this vehicle.
Benito
5:26 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
I have been riding my bike in Northern Virginia and on the GW parkway since 1982 and have never been hassled/targeted by motorists specifically along the parkway.
I also have had several encounters with crazy road raging car drivers over the years but mostly along roads like Fort Hunt or Telegraph while maintaining a relatively high rate of speed and always considered the Parkway a pleasant "sweet"spot to ride,after all it is a National Park not a highway.I've ridden my bike in 12 other states and 14 different countries over the years and consider Northern Virginia drivers to be perhaps the worst/most aggresive I have ever encountered...even riding in PG county Md. drivers give more courtesy to cyclists.
Recently I had a particuarly nasty encounter on Memorial hwy with a road rager who instigated the incident...I managed to get away after being assaulted but now I make sure I always carry a full can of pepperspray with me at all times while riding.
Chris
10:40 am on Thursday, December 22, 2011
Posted on a Mount Vernon news group:
As of 12/21/11, the driver of the gold cadillac has been identified. No charges are pending at this time.