Highway Patrol Warns Cyclists Of Dangers Of Freeway Traffic
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota Highway Patrol is warning bicyclists about the dangers of riding where they are not supposed to after a freeway crash took one man's life over the weekend.
Investigators say 21-year-old Jacob Kato of Alexandria was riding his bike in traffic along Interstate 94 in Minneapolis around 3 a.m. Sunday morning when an alleged drunk driver hit him.
The driver, 25-year-old Kamala Jaglall of Richfield is in Hennepin County jail now awaiting possible charges. Highway patrol Lieutenant Tiffani Schweigart says several factors can contribute to why a cyclist would end up on the freeway.
"We may get one or two calls a day and then none for a couple days," she said.
Lt. Schweigart says between now and June 1, highway patrol got 241 calls about non-motorized vehicles like bicycles on Metro area freeways.
She says a call came in from a passing driver Sunday morning about Kato along I-94. A state trooper was sent out that way immediately, but she says just 20 seconds after that call was placed, Kato was hit by a car.
"Often times when we are finding these bicyclists, they may be confused," Lt. Schweigart said. "The route they saw was the fastest route to get there, or maybe they didn't think it would be as dangerous as it was."
Schweigart also said intoxication is often a factor in these types of incidents. She says it is illegal for bicyclists to ride on the freeway or on ramps leading onto the freeway. The fine is $125 in most cases.
"The fine would be failing to obey a regulatory sign," Schweigart said.
Lt. Schweigart said there is a sign leading onto each freeway prohibiting bicycles or non-motorized traffic. She says the hardest part of watching bicyclists take to the freeway is that they don't stand a chance against cars.
"At these highway speeds of 65, 70 mph, an impact with a pedestrian or bicyclist is going to result in a fatal injury," she said.
Lt. Scweigart says is not clear why the bicyclist was out on the interstate in this case.