CARNAGE ON MAJORCAN ROADS CONTINUES WITH DEATH OF CYCLISTS

TWO cyclists, an American man and a German woman, died yesterday morning in two separate accidents after being involved in collisions with cars on Majorcan roads, while another two were seriously injured in accidents in Formentor and Deya.. A 45-year-old man from the United States and identified only as Larry H., died shortly before 9am, after reportedly being hit by a private car travelling along a road into Son Espanyol in the municipality of Palma. According to local police and other emergency services, the cyclist was the last in a group and allegedly failed to stop at a “give way” sign. Visibility is bad at this junction and the driver was unable to brake in time, the emergency services reported. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the car, which was heading towards the Valdemossa road, was uninjured.
The doctor attending the accident was unable to help the victim who had died from head injuries at the scene of the collision.
The other members of the group were in a state of shock and they were accompanied back to their hotel in Calvia in police cars. A council van picked up their bikes. Separately, Guardia Civil sources confirmed that shortly before midday yesterday, a German cyclist aged 29, named as Antje Crist, was fatally injured in an accident with a car on the Lluc to Pollensa highway near the Menut recreation area. According to the accident report, she was cycling a few metres behind her boyfriend when a hired car, driven by a German tourist, in the direction of Lluc, overtook another vehicle on a straight stretch of road, apparently without seeing the cyclist coming. She suffered massive head injuries and despite the efforts of paramedics, died at the scene. She had been staying at a hotel in the port of Alcudia. Her companion collapsed on witnessing the accident and needed medical attention.
The driver of the car sustained an arm injury and the vehicle suffered considerable material damage as a result of the impact.
A cyclist was treated for facial injuries after going off the Valldemossa-Deya road at Son Marroig, while another cyclist also needed medical attention after a similar accident by the Formentor lighthouse. He was rushed to Muro hospital by ambulance, where he was examined by doctors. The two deaths bring the number of victims of Balearic road accidents up to 38 so far this year, a figure which is causing concern among the traffic authorities, who are seeking ways to counteract the increasing carnage on the road (up by more than 50 percent). The chief cause is distraction of the driver followed by speeding.