Police arrest driver in bicyclist wreck

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A bicyclist is hospitalized in serious condition, and the driver of an SUV is arrested following a wreck in Downtown Austin.

• Photos: Scene of the wreck

"The bicyclist is in serious condition at Brackenridge," said Austin Police Sgt. David McDonald.

The call came in around 4:30 a.m. Friday for a crash between a car and a bicycle at 17th and Guadalupe streets, where the red Jeep was heading south on Guadalupe Street. The Jeep lost a tire but kept going.

Police said the 25-year-old driver, Truett Don Jones, hit a parked car before hitting the cyclist.

"The driver did leave the scene," said McDonald .

Jones was then arrested close by.

"The crime scene does stretch for several blocks," said McDonald. "The bicycle was dragged for several blocks, but the rider was found here at the scene."

The bicycle itself ended up at 15th Street and West Avenue. The car stopped at 17th Street between Pearl Street and West Avenue.

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EMS took the bicyclist to the hospital in serious condition.

Jones is charged with intoxication assault and failure to stop and render aid, both third-degree felonies. He is also charged with leaving the scene of a crash, a Class B misdemeanor.

"Additional charges could be charged at a later time as the investigation unfolds," said McDonald. "We're also asking for any witnesses to come forward with any additional information."

Austin police track cyclist wrecks with cars

Every year in Texas, 50 bicyclists are killed.

Mos recently, Robert Anthony Ramirez, 30, was leaving work downtown when a car hit and killed him on Sept. 23.

In the wake of that deadly crash, police released statistics that showed most bicycle-versus-car crashes are the fault of the driver, not the cyclist.

So far in 2012, only 21 percent of crashes between cyclists and cars have been the fault of the cyclist. Bike Texas Executive Director Robin Stallings has said that many people likely think it is the other way around.

In many areas of town, cyclists are not permitted to ride on sidewalks and are forced to share the road with cars.

'Complete streets' projects

The city of Austin is working to keep cyclists and drivers safe with "complete streets" projects, where bike lanes are completely separated from the road where cars travel.

The Austin City Council also passed the Safe Passing Ordinance requiring drivers to allow 3 feet of space between their car and a cyclist.

Meanwhile, Bike Texas is working to get that passed as a statewide law in the next legislative session.