NBC6: 11 Bicyclists Hit By SUV In West Miami-Dade Co.

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A group of about 40 cyclists was traveling about 30 mph down Southwest 62nd Street when a gray sport utility vehicle pulled out of an apartment complex, hitting 11 of the riders. “All my friends are on the ground,” one cyclist said. “Broken bikes and broken bodies.”

Two of the bicyclists were being treated at Ryder Trauma Center in critical but stable condition. Another five are at local hospitals in stable condition and the others were treated at the scene.

The victims piled up on one another and shattered the back window of the SUV.  “The man didn’t make the stop like it’s supposed to be,” injured cyclist Osiel Pardo said. “It stopped in the middle of the street and we already hit the car. It was incredible.”

Miami-Dade County Police said the man was pulling out of his apartment complex in the Kendall Lakes Circle community. He was trying to make a left turn onto Southwest 62nd Street around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The man said he didn’t see the group of bicycle riders going westbound on the same street.

“It’s clear that this individual violated the right of way, causing the accident,” Alvaro Zabaleta of the Miami-Dade County Police Department said.

One bicycle rider was driving behind the driver that hit the cyclists. He said residents were parked in the bike lane, blocking the driver’s view.

“Right in our bike lane,” he said. “All the way around, these cars are parked in our lane on both sides of the road. What’re you supposed to do?”

“There are some visibility issues because of cars that were parked on the bike path,” Zabaleta said. “Some asphalt work was being conducted in the apartment complex.”

Some residents said these types of accidents could be avoided if there was a mutual respect on South Florida roads.

“There’s no respect for the drivers either,” resident Lourdes Farah said. “I come 20, 25 mph around here and I am always so careful, so in fear of hitting one of them.”

Police said drivers should consider the bicycle riders as vehicles.

The driver, 62-year-old Juan Tanaka, has been issued a citation for violation of right way.