Scott Peoples
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Scott Peoples |
| Died | December 15, 2006 Merton, Victoria, Australia |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
Scott Peoples was an Australian road racing cyclist with an emerging career in professional cycling before his death at the age of 20 in a training accident in regional Victoria.[1] Before his death he had won two stages of the Tour of Southland and placed 3rd overall in the Tour of Tasmania.[1] He was a member of Australia's youth cycling team and a Victorian Institute of Sport scholarship holder.[2]
[edit] Accident and inquest
On 15 December 2006, Scott Peoples was struck from behind by a Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive while training on a two lane country highway in Merton, Victoria, and died at the scene. The 73 year old driver of the vehicle, Kenneth Blay, later pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving and was fined $3000 and disqualified from driving for 3 years.[3]
People's family pressed the Victorian Coroner to hold an inquest into his death on the grounds of how such a collision could occur on a clear day, along a straight stretch of road, with a cyclist wearing bright coloured clothes. The Coroner accepted the request and hearings started in August 2008.[3] The Bicycle Federation of Australia was invited to make a submission to the inquest.[3]
The inquest heard evidence that Kenneth Blay suffered a stroke three years before the accident, suffering loss of vision and was told by a doctor not to drive. The court also heard Mr Blay hit another cyclist in 2004 in similar circumstances, causing the rider to suffer a broken leg.[4] The lawyer for the Peoples family submitted to the Coroner that he consider recommending legislation making it mandatory for doctors to report any person they believe unfit to hold a licence to VicRoads.[5]
Hearings in the inquest, case number 4776/06, were concluded in December 2009. The coroner's findings are expected to be delivered after several months.
[edit] Scott Peoples Foundation
The Scott Peoples Foundation was set up in Scott's honour to assist in the development of junior cycling in Victoria.[6] The foundation organises the annual Scotty's Ride, a recreational challenge ride, and Scotty's Race, a 125 km road race, both held in December each year since 2007.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Peoples, Erin. "About Scotty". Scott Peoples Foundation. http://www.scottpeoplesfoundation.com.au/scottPeoples/spitfire.jsp?c_id=10020. Retrieved 5 May 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "News - Latest News". CycleSport Victoria. http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/default.asp?id=15806. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
- ^ a b c "BFA e-news June 2008 edition". Bicycle Federation of Australia. http://www.bfa.asn.au/cms/uploads/bfa_enews_june2008.pdf. Retrieved 5 May 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "Cycle crash inquest told of driver's poor sight". ABC News. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/28/2348764.htm. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
- ^ Pilcher, Georgie (26 September 2008). "Killer driver near-blind when champion cyclist killed". Herald Sun. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24404592-2862,00.html. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
- ^ "2008 Scotty's Ride". CycloSportif Victoria. http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/?Page=17812. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
- ^ "2008 Scotty's Ride - Scotty's Weekend". CycloSportif Victoria. http://www.cyclosportifvic.com.au/?Page=18023. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
