A 79-year-old cyclist struck by a hit-and-run motorcyclist last week has succumbed to his injuries from the crash.
The man, Julio Ruiz, was riding his bike near his Fair Haven home last Thursday a little before 4:30 p.m. when the motorcyclist crashed into him at Grand Avenue and Ferry Street, then fled the scene, according to New Haven police spokesman Capt. Anthony Duff.
Ruiz was hospitalized, and on Sunday was pronounced dead, Duff reported. Ruiz would have turned 80 this week. (Previous reports incorrectly identified him as having already turned 80 years old.)
Between crazy drivers (speeding, turns w/o signaling, passing over double yellow lines because someone is following the speed limit) and clueless bicyclists (no helmets, no signals, doing stunts on busy city streets), it is a Wild West atmosphere here.
Fair Haven is greatly in need of more police presence to enforce the rules.<br /> Parking in No Parking zones isn't even an issue, apparently.<br /> Many people cross in the middle of long blocks and cars to do not stop or even slow down for them. CT needs a law that says drivers must stop for people who want to cross. I've almost been hit 2X on Q. Ave. when I was IN a cross walk.<br /> Forget the "broken windows" theory of policing.<br /> The police have a problem and we need to see them address it before the body count goes higher.Just yesterday I biked down the Ferry St. Bridge and waited for traffic to pass to cross over to Water St. A car on the other side (Water St) started to turn left into me as I was half way across. I hope my screaming broke his ear drum. This is why we have to bike on the sidewalks in some congested areas. Cars do not observe the legal distance and they are lethal weapons to pedestrians and cyclists.