Cyclist without helmet OK after being hit by suspected drunken driver
| Tuesday, Aug 26 2008 12:58 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 06:05 PM
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"I want drivers to be aware of cyclists," said Miguel Berger as he recovers from his injuries he sustained when he was hit by a drunk driver while riding with friends along Chester Ave last Saturday afternoon. Berger injuries include a broken wrist, broken leg, lacerations to his leg, and road rash on his face, back and legs. Doctors also had to reattach his right ear.
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A truck side-view mirror dug into Miguel Jose Berger’s left hip and he went flying over his bicycle’s handlebars.
Berger landed 20 feet later on pavement that ripped the right side of his face from his ear to the scalp.
“I feel very lucky” to be alive, he said. “I wish I had a helmet on.”
Berger escaped death Saturday after he was hit by an accused drunk driver who fled from the accident in central Bakersfield.
The suspect, Oscar Gomez, had earlier hit another vehicle near the intersection of Fourth Street and Chester Avenue at about 3:30 p.m., according to police.
After the wreck, Gomez drove north on Chester Avenue and hit the 31-year-old Berger, who was riding a bicycle along with three friends, police and the victim said.
The buddies were riding in a single line near the sidewalk northbound on Chester Avenue, according to Berger. The truck struck the pack-leading bicyclist, Berger.
“Without a doubt, that was one of the most devastating things I’ve ever seen,” said Matt Guerrero, who was riding 10 feet behind Berger.
After falling face first into the pavement, Berger rolled on the ground.
“My backpack saved my back from being scrapped up,” he said. “It’s chewed up.”
Guerrero applied pressure to Berger’s head as blood squirted from his head. Another friend had to pull a bicycle crank off of Berger’s foot.
“It hurt,” Berger said. “I would rather hurt than bleed to death.”
After the accident, Gomez drove off and was later arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run and felony driving under the influence, police said.
He is scheduled for a court hearing today, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department.
Berger, who has been hit before while riding a bicycle, suffered a broken left leg, fractured hand and injuries to his face.
He got stitches on his temple, ear and scalp. He was told he could never grow hair on his hairline.
“I’m not a handsome guy, but I’m OK,” Berger said.
Berger, who is studying to be an electrician at Cal State Bakersfield, intends to continue biking when he gets better. He hopes more motorists will be more aware of bicyclists on the road.
“Give me two to three months, I’m going to build a bike,” he said. “I just got a helmet.”
