ST. GEORGE – A bicyclist was struck by van and killed last night near the St. George Municipal Airport.
The accident happened around 7:45 p.m. A white Dodge Caravan was traveling west on the Southern Parkway (state Route 7) when it struck 36-year-old Braydon Nielsen, of Washington City. Nielsen was riding with a group of cyclists when the accident occurred. A statement from the Utah State Highway Patrol indicates that Nielsen died at the scene.
Witnesses to the accident say that the driver’s vision may have been obscured by the setting sun. The driver of the van was not impaired and Nielsen was wearing a bicycle helmet. Nielsen was transported by Life Flight to Dixie Regional Medical Center.
According to a blog-post commemorating him, Nielsen was a triathlete and an ICU charge nurse at DRMC, the hospital that he was taken-to after the accident. He leaves behind a wife and four children.
The “Braydon Nielsen ‘Booyah’ Memorial Fund” has been established for Nielsen’s family at Wells Fargo Bank.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @mflynnSTGN
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.
My thoughts are with the family.
sorry to hear of this, very sad news. it’s too bad more off-street bike/jogging paths can’t be built, albeit this won’t help now.
Cyclists training for races and events do not use paths or trails very often if ever. Trails have speed limits, kids, dogs on leashes, strollers 2-3 wide and other issues that cyclists want to avoid. Serious cyclists use the roadways to train. However, roadways are becoming more and more dangerous with the high use of smartphones and other distractions by motorists. It would be nice if bikes and cars could just get along. Some areas are better at it than others. My prayers are with the family as they start to recover from this tragedy.
Agreed. What’s most frustrating about Southern Parkway is that it’s new, in an area with plenty of space, yet does not include a separate, protected lane for bikes. You can’t tell me in a city that touts itself as the idea winter training locale that nobody thought about this. If so, then I hope the cost savings is worth the lives lost. If not, then whoever led the project needs to be replaced.
Oh come on now…… it’s a 65 MPH road! We don’t need bikes on it. Just because its open and remote doesn’t mean its ok for bikes to be out there. Holy cow people, its a state route for crying out loud. Condolences to the family in this truly horrific accident, but enough is enough! Despite what the law allows, roads are for vehicles!
I scratch my head at a lot of things St George does. Don’t even get me started on the airport and access to it. (for starters)
Really?!?! You guys are shocked?! It is about time …! Stay out of the road you morons!!!!!!!! There are a ton of paths, ride on them! Anyone drive up to veyo lately? There is a path almost all the way and they STILL ride in the road! Stay out of my way you …!
Ed. ellipsis
Dear Comrades,
In the socialist states of America only those with proper government approval will have the freedom to ride a bicycle on the road. Comrades, we can not allow the wishes of a few bicyclists to overshadow the common good of the people. Slow moving bicyclists are anathema to the good of the state. Those subversives cycling in the road deserve to be hit because having a larger more powerful vehicle gives us the right to drive without the nuisance of their inferior presence.
@Kayla,
we all have a right to our opinions, even if you don’t agree with why cyclists use roadway. The only thing shocking here is how rude your comment is. callous, impersonal. Family, friends, and a community lost a loved one; his loved ones are reading this and are in enough pain without your criticism. Cyclists aren’t “morons”. they have good reason for why they prefer roadways to paths. accidents happen. perhaps you should think beyond yourself.
One of the biggest problems with cyclists is that they all seem to insist on riding the white line that divides the road from the path that is set aside for bikes.. See it all the time no matter where I travel. Even motorcycles seem to claim that center line that divides the lanes on the freeway. Here is the problem cyclists. If we motorist have a problem and have to maneuver, your are injured or dead. STAY OFF THE WHITE LINES – use common sense! You are too close to traffic and you ain’t gonna win if we don’t have room to pass or time to stop..
One of the biggest problems cyclists have with vehicles is the angry, ignorant and selfish way they drive around here. Utah law states that bicycles “could” actually take up the lane if they wanted to, but should stay to the right when possible. On most roads, the best place to ride is right on the white line. Glass, nails and other garbage that pop tires gets worse towards the edge of the road. Even thought there is a 10-12 ft shoulder, most of that area has hazards for the skinny tires with 110 psi in them. Motorcycles also pick the “best line” for wheel travel when on the roads too. The vehicle wheel lanes are the roughest so they stay out of them.
Explaining all this is futile to those who don’t cycle. The fact that people acquire this road rage towards cyclists and runners is embarrassing to themselves and the rest of the community. If you can’t safely operate a vehicle around cyclist and runners because of this selfish attitude, seek help now for this condition before it’s too late. There are many cases across this nation where drivers have intentionally ran over bicycles over a road rage episode.
Cyclists and runners are not out there to infuriate vehicles. They are just out doing their thing. It’s not that hard to deal with.
You’re right that there are motorists who rage against bikers and even some monsters who intentionally attempt to harm or kill them either for macabre sport or because of anger issues and those incidents are unacceptable. However, roads are never going to be safe for bikers, and if an accident happens, the biker will always lose. I understand the limitations of bike paths due to other users and speed limits, however, being a traffic hazard is not the solution, despite the law’s misguided attempt to make everyone happy. The roads are for motor vehicles plain and simple. Ideally, bikers would have dedicated paths unto themselves, but that’s not going to happen unless it is privately funded. Alternatively, bikers could band together and form some sort of coalition or semi-professional hobbyist society and pay for a business that builds a track in open private land much like a motocross area with hills and whatnot. They would have it unto themselves for miles and miles in a loop. Build it right and it will provide the training you need without being a danger to yourselves or, more importantly, others. And if bikers insist on being selfish and using the road when it is dangerous, then they should get together and “adopt a road” if the shoulders are too cluttered with debris. Maintain what you want to use and do it in a way that’s not going to cause other people trauma by killing people who shouldn’t have been there in the first place. All this talk of bikers’ rights ignores the fact that the person driving this car is a needless victim as well.
Can’t you guys just play tennis instead?
Joanna,
Please don’t give these weekend athletes any ideas. I don’t want to have to go around a tennis match on state road 18.
Hahahaa sorry 🙂
I cannot believe that people are so self-centered. If you have no compassion for another humans life maybe you should leave civilization. Should we kill your grandmother if she goes under the speed limit? Maybe we should also kill those who go over the limit. While we are at it lets dispose of everyone who drives a color of car we don’t like. It seems to me we would be kinder to a stray dog than to another human being. SHAMEFUL!!!!!
Everybody should take a step back and look at what the bigger issue is here. ITS THE UTARDED DRIVERS! Both…..in the car and on the bike. The same idiots behind the wheel are also on a bike. That is a bad combination of two completly negative instances. Then you add texting while driving, and listening to ear buds or headphones while on a bike. I don’t even ride my bike anymore because I am afraid that a completly sober, well educated, and wealthy person is going to run a red light, because of a text message, or switching the song on there LAME iphone and I will be crushed by a whatever vehicle is trending in Saint George this week! GO FALCONS!!!
Ditto to biker Bob!! All of you anti bikers should try it sometime, instead of sitting on your butt in a car. It’s amazing what you can see when cycling, things you’ve never seen or noticed before.
The next time you get mad because a cyclist is in front or to the side of you, think about it. IF IT WAS YOUR WIFE, HUSBAND, CHILD OR ANY OTHER LOVED ONE, WOULD YOU WANT SOMEONE TRYING TO PASS THEM, COMING AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT HITTING THEM. (Just to show them who’s the boss of the road) all it would take is a little mistake on either one, an unexpected hole, a little gravel on the road, a wet slick spot on the road and the biker could easily be under your car. Give the cyclist a little space, the life you save may be a family member
I just rode my bike in the middle of the road and loved it so I thought I should ride on the bike path FOUR FEET next to the road and loved it just as much…. So what is the big difference?!?! Nothing other than the fact that the person on the road will get killed and the person on the path will be fine… Sorry your mothers didn’t teach you not to play in the middle of the road. Stay in the bike paths that cost a million dollers to make!!!
There is a simple solution for the cyclists that feel that vehicle drivers should share the roadways. For the cyclists who “have to have” the roadway to train for whatever events you are training for, and insist that vehicle drivers be more tolerant and aware and considerate, and who also feel they need to power their bikes up to the 25-35 mph speeds they desire…..the most simplest solution is for you cyclists all to get on the I-15 and knock yourselves out, have at it to your hearts content. The I-15 has plenty of room for vehicles and bikes and goes for miles and miles in south and/or north directions.
Now, for the real “morons” who are runners and/or joggers, listen up. Why in the world do you think it is okay to run in the street at pre-dawn hours where you are less likely to be seen? What is wrong with running/jogging on the sidewalk? After all, my understanding of the sidewalk rules are for the pedestrians (also known as people walking, running, jogging, skipping or crawling if need be) to use. And for petes sake, you runner/joggers need to stop at red lights also. Just wondering when it will be reported that a runner/jogger has been hit and killed while running/jogging in the dark. Get a clue you Olympic athletes wannabes. Use some common sense. The good Lord gave you a brain for a reason…use it.
if the speed limit is 65, run or bike 65. you won’t get rear ended. if you can’t do the speed limit, ride or jog a bike path. do not put yourself in harms way of an automobile observing the speed limit
So do all of the other cities around the nation have this same kind of anti-cyclists discussions or is this just a St. George thing? Do we need the water tested for Pride-itis? or Arrogant-itis? or you’re not like me-itis so stop what you’re doing. Or is it some other ailment that causes folks to just hate other folks who are out trying to mind their own business? It’s not just this topic either, and it seems to be very prevalent around here.
No, it’s not just you. In fact, in places like Portland, near where I live and which is allegedly a “bike-topia” and Tucson, which I used to live in and is similar, the situation is even worse. Comment boards such as this one are filled with hatred toward cyclists. However, if you spend much time reading these things, you find it’s really just the same three or four people doing all the whining. I used to try to be reasonable and considerate on line and on the road. Fat lot of good that did.
I am sickened by the complete utter ignorance and cold hearted comments from those posted here. A young mother with 4 young children lost a husband and father. No matter who was on what side of the “white” line we ALL need to be more aware of our surroundings! It’s a free country and it should be and issue to share the road! ANY road for that matter. All too many times do I see cars out of THEIR “white” lines and veering into oncoming traffic or off to the side of the road due to SO MANY distractions these days. Those who commented negatively need to really think about what you have said and how it may effect others. This world is so sad.. So negative. We should ALL be saddened by this loss and not finding a way to make it a debate and negative! Sad world we live in with such ignorant selfish rude people. My heart goes out to this family and loved ones. I can’t imagine the feeling of loss they must be experiencing. I hope and pray we can ALL a little more aware of what we do and say. Someday we may experience something like this and I would hope others wouldn’t say what you have said. Hope you would too. Our prayers and love go out to this family at this time of need!
What about the poor driver who killed this person? If the biker weren’t there he/she wouldn’t be traumatized for life because of this. The driver of the vehicle is a victim too! Don’t make this about “anti-bikers”, it’s about an accident that shouldn’t have happened and wouldn’t have if bikes weren’t on streets. It’s a hazard and not only has this man lost his life and this woman lost her husband and these children lost their father, but this driver has lost a great deal too knowing he accidentally took a life and that it could have been prevented. Preaching common sense (cars and bikes don’t mix) isn’t “negative”, it’s the right thing because it will hopefully lead to the prevention of more of these tragedies.
This bike rider was not in the lane of travel meant for automobiles. So if the driver were a “victim,” absent any responsibility, the bike rider would not have been hit and would not have died. It could have been prevented, sure. The driver, blinded by the setting sun, could have driven a speed appropriate for the conditions.
Oops should NOT be and issue to share the roads!
Its sad that people cant just come leave comments about the person who died. There is a time and place to have these issues talked about and it should be here . If u feel u want something changed stop complaining about it and do something talking about it here does no good . Show up at the city council meets and do something …………………MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY I AM SORRY FOR YOURE LOST
This comment section makes me even more upset over losing such a great asset to our community. Pure ignorance. Anyone that feels like being supportive, attend the group ride to the funeral, it will be much appreciated.
No one here is belittling the tragedy. Everyone reading is upset over this loss of life. And since we all agree it doesn’t serve to talk about it further; rather what must be discussed is what we do not agree upon – the safety and rights of bikers to use a road for their activity. Don’t attempt to shut down discourse with a chastising remark as if you’re taking the moral high ground. This is a legitimate topic of discussion that really needs to make it to the state level. Be safe on your group ride, and don’t ride on the road.
“what must be discussed is what we do not agree upon”
Do you honestly think that anything is going to be solved by arguing here? No one seems to be listening to anything anyone else is saying, unless they are of the same opinion. If you would really like to make a difference, take it somewhere else, where it might actually help. You said it yourself. This is an issue that needs to be taken to the state level. So take it there. But you’re not going to make it there by complaining and arguing in the comments section.
I am both a driver and a runner, and I know exactly how moronic both groups can be- and also how stubborn.
first and foremost i am sorry for the loss of this young man now WAKE UP i have been saying for years that its only a matter of time before someone on a bike gets killed on these roads around here. i know you love to ride but that does not make it a good idea to ride on the road nor does the fact that your allowed to ride on the far right side of the road.(which you do not do) make it a wise thing to do! i know your all going to be upset about this but it does not make it any less true.stop being selfish and think. it is poor judgement on anyone’s part who puts them selves in that kind of danger.you literally put your live in the hands of people and automobiles both are prone to uncontrollable forces and circumstance. STOP PLEASE ride the trails its a better work out anyway.
Calling cyclists selfish, while simultaneously telling them to “stay off my dang road so I can continue to drive recklessly and without paying proper attention.” Oh, Mater, you are a hoot.
phillipio read what i wrote if you want to make a comment on it l
did not say in any way to stay off my roads they are our roads i have ridden bikes probably longer than you have been alive but i am not willing to risk my life for an easy peddle on the road settle down and think about it, emotional responses are not intelligent responses. BTW if you knew me you would know i am a hoot. and you assuming i drive recklessly means you do not know me at all and shows your inability to focus on the diccission
I cannot believe that people are so self-centered. If you have no compassion for another humans life maybe you should leave civilization. Should we kill your grandmother if she goes under the speed limit? Maybe we should also kill those who go over the limit. While we are at it lets dispose of everyone who drives a color of car we don’t like. It seems to me we would be kinder to a stray dog than to another human being. SHAMEFUL!!!!!