Miami Accident Lawyer Blog
Yet another tragic bicycle accident has occurred in South Florida. A 26-year-old Miami man was recently charged with first degree murder after he allegedly struck two bicyclists in South Broward County while attempting to flee from law enforcement officers. In the early morning hours of August 5th, police reportedly caught Obrian Oakley and an accomplice, 25-year-old Sadik Baxter, engaged in misdemeanor theft while in the Hard Rock Casino parking lot. Instead of being taken into custody, however, Oakley is accused of speeding away from the parking lot in his vehicle. While fleeing from police, Oakley allegedly drove through a red light at a high rate of speed and hit two cyclists before striking another vehicle. 60-year-old Dean Amelkin and 61-year-old Christopher McConnell were killed in the accident. Both men reportedly died immediately at the scene of the crash.
Following the deadly crash, Oakley allegedly attempted to flee from police on foot. He was arrested several hours later when a Broward County Sheriff’s Office helicopter spotted him. According to police, although Oakley had a minor arrest record, he did not intend to kill anyone when he initially began his crime spree. After a witness notified police regarding vehicle burglaries in progress in the casino parking lot, Oakley’s accomplice was arrested. Instead of being taken into custody with his friend, Oakley now faces two counts of first degree murder.
Although this was a tragic accident, the result could have been much worse as the two cyclists killed were reportedly riding with a large group of bikers when Oakley struck them. This was the second catastrophic bicycling accident in South Florida within one week. Earlier in the week, another cyclist was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital after he was hit by a car on the Rickenbacker Causeway. Police failed to charge the driver in that incident, however.
Unfortunately, riding your bicycle in South Florida has become an increasingly deadly proposition as many motorists simply fail to notice or refuse to share the road with cyclists. If you or someone you love was injured in a bicycle accident, you may be able to sue the person who hit you for medical expenses, suffering, pain, any resulting disability, lost wages, and lost earning capacity. Because you have a limited amount of time during which you may file your Florida personal injury or wrongful death claim, you are advised to discuss your case with a capable personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able.
Call the law firm of Gerson & Schwartz, P.A at (305) 371-6000 if you were hurt or lost a family member in a South Florida bicycle accident. At Gerson & Schwartz, our hardworking Broward County bicycle accident attorneys have more than 40 years of collective experience helping the victims of personal injury accidents receive the compensation they deserve. Our dedicated lawyers are available to explain your rights and help you file your car accident, wrongful death, or other personal injury claim. For a free consultation with a capable personal injury attorney, please do not hesitate to contact Gerson & Schwartz through our website today.
More Blog Posts:
Four Dead Following Pedestrian Accident Near New Marlins Baseball Park, Miami Injury Lawyer Blog, July 3, 2012
Sandusky Trial Continues: Victims Tell the Jury How They Felt Mixed Emotions, Miami Injury Lawyer Blog, June 18, 2012
Additional Resources:
Miami Man Arrested For Killing Two Cyclists While Fleeing Cops, by Tim Elfrink, Miami New Times