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José Antonio Duarte Leiva this Friday became the 35th deceased cyclist on the roads of Cundinamarca so far this year. And it is not just another number: José Antonio was a 56-year-old from Boyacá, a father, the pride of his family and a vigilante who loved pedaling. But this weekend it became the symbol of one of the vulnerable actors on the road: cyclists.
(In context: Van driver ran over and killed a cyclist in Chía)
His case unleashed the indignation of thousands of people who, this Sunday, replicated again and again the video in which his death is recorded.
The videos of security cameras located on the La Caro bridge, in Chía, at kilometer 6 + 290 of the Bogotá-Tunja road, captured at 9:01 am on Friday, October 9, how the driver of a van attacks José Antonio and, due to the impact, threw him off the bridge in a fall 4.5 meters high. The driver continues on his way, changes lanes and flees. The other vehicles, on the contrary, stop at the point where the bicycle left and, below, others stop in front of the cyclist.
Due to the severity of the injuries, José Antonio died at the La Sabana Clinic and a few kilometers from his home in Chía. His wife, son and dog stayed there waiting for him.
“My father cared a lot for the well-being of his family, he did everything he could to get everything we needed,” said his son, William Duarte, on CityTv, EL TIEMPO’s television channel.
That morning, his father was resting and had gone out to play sports, a habit he maintained not only out of passion, but also on medical advice.
“My dad cared a lot about the welfare of his family, he did everything he could to get everything we needed,” said his son, William Duarte.
So shocking are the images that throughout Sunday the words ‘Chia’ and ‘Homicide’ were trending on Twitter. Thousands of people expressed their rejection of the events with HT # NoMásCiclistasMuertos.
Former Tour de France champion Egan Bernal was one of those who joined in the demand for justice.
(You may be interested in: Egan’s message about the fatal accident of a cyclist in Chia)
Another of the voices that sounded was that of the Governor of Cundinamarca, Nicolás García. “Cundinamarca entire today mourns the death of a cyclist on its roads. I have immense sorrow for what this loss means for their family and friends, for the department and in general for a country that has been fighting hard so that this does not happen, ”said the Governor.
The driver was found that same day, in Sopó. “Our criminalistics units activated the investigative work and managed to locate the driver and the vehicle. The vehicle was immobilized, and the driver was turned over to the Prosecutor’s Office. He will probably have to face the crimes of culpable homicide in a traffic accident and omission of relief ”, assured the Traffic Police.
However, the Governor assured that the man had been released by a control judge guarantees. “Unfortunately, because flagrante delicto is not configured, this person is still linked to the process, but does so in freedom,” García explained.
The victims’ lawyer rejected the judge’s decision. “This driver represents a danger to society and must be in a prison,” said Saúl León.
Worrisome figures
According to figures from the Cundinamarca Center for Studies and Research in Road Safety, 297,000 bicycle trips are made in the department each day, and 43.4 percent of these are made to Bogotá. Furthermore, bicycle use is known to have increased by 62.3 percent in 2020 compared to the 2019 figure.
But, in the midst of that bicycle boom, there were crashes.
So far this year, 136 cyclists have been involved in road accidents: 101 were injured and 35 died. The routes with the highest accidents are Route 40-Autosur Bogotá connection, Route 50 at the exit of Calle 13, Route 45 at the exit of the North highway through Chía, Route 50 at the exit of La Calera and Route 40C at the Chipaque-Usme exit.
As revealed by the Center for Studies, accidents usually occur due to multiple recklessness (including high speeds), failure to comply with safe distances, making dangerous maneuvers, invading the lane or not using reflectivity or visibility elements.
(You can continue reading: The figures of road accidents with cyclists in Cundinamarca)
Bogotá and Cundinamarca reject the fact
The Mobility Secretariats of Bogotá and Cundinamarca will hold an act of public rejection against violence on the streets this Monday, in the Main Square of Suba. The event will also be attended by the Secretary of Security, the IDRD, the Citizen Culture Directorate and the Traffic Police.
BOGOTA
With the support of Miguel Porras, journalist from City Tv
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