The most interesting courtroom drama in recent years is taking place this week in Los Angeles.
It is the road rage trial of a California doctor who passed two cyclists descending a hill and then slammed on his brakes. One cyclist swerved to avoid the car, clipped the back bumper and went flying into the oncoming lane. He had a separated shoulder that required surgery. The other cyclist fared much worse. He slammed into the back of the doctor’s car. His face went through the back window. It took 90 stitches to reattach the man’s nose, which was almost completely severed.
The doctor, who reportedly attempted to do the same thing to two other cyclists four months earlier, allegedly told the investigating police officer that he wanted”to teach them a lesson.” The doctor was charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
An attorney for the doctor maintains it was an “unfortunate accident.” In his opening remarks Monday, he suggested bicycles are inherently unstable and the cyclists themselves are responsible for their injuries.
Velonews has been covering the case. The latest is here. The opening day coverage is here.
