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Robert J. Matte
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-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [*CCM*] Cyclist asks for support in court hearing Friday
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 10:53:09 -0800 From: David Callahan <[email protected]> Reply-To: Chicago
Critical Mass <[email protected]> To: [email protected]
This case involves a cyclist who believes the man who hit him did so intentionally, yet the driver
denies this and police have charged him only with leaving the scene and driving without insurance.
The cyclist, Lowell Feinstein, is asking for a show of support in court on Friday afternoon.
----------------------------------------------
A Chicago man will face charges Friday of leaving the scene of an accident and driving without
insurance after crashing twice into a bicyclist who maintains that it was a deliberate attack.
Police say Darick J. Collins, of 5320 W. Adams St., first struck cyclist Lowell Feinstein in the
northbound bike lane at 100 N. Halsted Street at about 5 p.m. February 20, and again, a few
minutes later in the intersection of Halsted and Lake Street, after the Feinstein sprayed mace in
Collins’ face.
Police did not file any charges reflecting Feinstein's claim that either of the two collisions were
deliberate. Police said that the 1989 Oldsmobile that Collins was driving was abandoned in the 700
block of Hubbard with the bicycle still caught on the front of the vehicle.
Collins told police that after first striking Feinstein, he had driven around the block and caught
up to him at the Halsted/Lake intersection so he could “apologize.” He said that after he was maced,
he was blinded and frightened, and in an attempt to drive off, he struck Feinstein instead.
A preliminary hearing is set for 1 p.m. Friday, March 21 in Room 406 of Traffic Court at
Daley Center.
Feinstein said the first strike came from behind while the Collins was allegedly passing other cars
on the right. Feinstein said that Collins came up behind and sounded his horn repeatedly; but
Feinstein said he was confused and instead of getting out of the way, he slowed down. “I thought it
was a cop.”
He was hit in the rear tire and was nearly thrown from his bike, but maintained control as Collins
drove away.
Feinstein said he rode up to the the intersection of Halsted and Lake St., where Collins’ vehicle
was standing in the right lane of traffic. He said he kept his bag open so he could reach for his
mace. “I asked the driver if he always tries to run cyclists over.” Feinstein said Collins became
“belligerent” and began yelling at him and moving as if he were trying to get out of the car, reach
for a weapon or both.
“I felt threatened,” he said. “I squirted mace at him—then I rode up to the light and got ready to
turn left,”
It was then that Collins’ car crossed over from the right to hit Feinstein, police said.
“He attempted to kill me,” Feinstein said. “He accelerated and hit my bike throwing me off into the
grill of a van coming the other way. The vehicle then also hit the van.”
Feinstein, who is a doctor at Cook County Hospital, said he suffered a bruised temporal bone,
multiple cuts, hematomas and contusions, and a laceration over the eye that required six stitches.
His custom Appalachian bike was totaled.
###
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 10:53:09 -0800 From: David Callahan <[email protected]> Reply-To: Chicago
Critical Mass <[email protected]> To: [email protected]
This case involves a cyclist who believes the man who hit him did so intentionally, yet the driver
denies this and police have charged him only with leaving the scene and driving without insurance.
The cyclist, Lowell Feinstein, is asking for a show of support in court on Friday afternoon.
----------------------------------------------
A Chicago man will face charges Friday of leaving the scene of an accident and driving without
insurance after crashing twice into a bicyclist who maintains that it was a deliberate attack.
Police say Darick J. Collins, of 5320 W. Adams St., first struck cyclist Lowell Feinstein in the
northbound bike lane at 100 N. Halsted Street at about 5 p.m. February 20, and again, a few
minutes later in the intersection of Halsted and Lake Street, after the Feinstein sprayed mace in
Collins’ face.
Police did not file any charges reflecting Feinstein's claim that either of the two collisions were
deliberate. Police said that the 1989 Oldsmobile that Collins was driving was abandoned in the 700
block of Hubbard with the bicycle still caught on the front of the vehicle.
Collins told police that after first striking Feinstein, he had driven around the block and caught
up to him at the Halsted/Lake intersection so he could “apologize.” He said that after he was maced,
he was blinded and frightened, and in an attempt to drive off, he struck Feinstein instead.
A preliminary hearing is set for 1 p.m. Friday, March 21 in Room 406 of Traffic Court at
Daley Center.
Feinstein said the first strike came from behind while the Collins was allegedly passing other cars
on the right. Feinstein said that Collins came up behind and sounded his horn repeatedly; but
Feinstein said he was confused and instead of getting out of the way, he slowed down. “I thought it
was a cop.”
He was hit in the rear tire and was nearly thrown from his bike, but maintained control as Collins
drove away.
Feinstein said he rode up to the the intersection of Halsted and Lake St., where Collins’ vehicle
was standing in the right lane of traffic. He said he kept his bag open so he could reach for his
mace. “I asked the driver if he always tries to run cyclists over.” Feinstein said Collins became
“belligerent” and began yelling at him and moving as if he were trying to get out of the car, reach
for a weapon or both.
“I felt threatened,” he said. “I squirted mace at him—then I rode up to the light and got ready to
turn left,”
It was then that Collins’ car crossed over from the right to hit Feinstein, police said.
“He attempted to kill me,” Feinstein said. “He accelerated and hit my bike throwing me off into the
grill of a van coming the other way. The vehicle then also hit the van.”
Feinstein, who is a doctor at Cook County Hospital, said he suffered a bruised temporal bone,
multiple cuts, hematomas and contusions, and a laceration over the eye that required six stitches.
His custom Appalachian bike was totaled.
###