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Deadly bike crash in Mexico
June 2, 2008 – 8:50 pm by California CorrespondentAs a cyclicst, one thing I’ve never worried about is a coked up motorist who wants to run me over. After seeing this set of photos, however, I might have to reconsider.
Jesse Campos, a 29 year old American, was arrested after hitting the cyclists, who were competing in the third annual Matamoros-Bagdad Cycling Tour in Matamoros Mexico on Sunday. One American rider was killed in the incident, while five others (including a 14-year-old) remain in a critical condition in hospital.

The close up photo after the jump is crazy!






60 Responses to “Deadly bike crash in Mexico”
That is crazy!
By King Ing on Jun 2, 2008
That is one of the craziest if not the craziest thing I have ever seen. I hope everyone in critical condition makes it and this driver gets fried.
By JoseOle on Jun 3, 2008
Holy crap
By Smokestack on Jun 3, 2008
This makes me absolutely sick.
By kc on Jun 3, 2008
That’s not even funny. I hope that bastard dies in a mexican prison.
By sickashell on Jun 3, 2008
Why do so many people think it is not a big deal to drive drunk? DUI jail sentences are a joke. Usually not more than 3 or 4 years in jail if someone dies and no time at all if it is only dui and not a fatality. It is time to pressure law makers to send drunk drivers away for a long time. This driver needs to be put in a room alone with the family members of those injured and killed in this incident.
By P'd on Jun 3, 2008
Keep in mind when you read this that I’m an avid cyclist. A real diehard, biking in adverse conditions. Go easy, everyone. It was an accident. I don’t understand why people think there’s safety in numbers. People don’t see something the size of a semi, and hit it with their car, why would bicyclists be more visible even in a group? I once spotted a group of cyclists in a rain storm on the road in front of me. They were barely visible. The car behind me didn’t see them, and started to pass. Half the pack was almost run down. My heart went out to both sides. Now, if the persons attitude was “so what, it was an accident”, they need a real attitude adjustment, along with jail. Remember, the driver is a US citizen in Mexico. The cops were probably more drunk than the driver, spilling their Tequilla all over him.
By Bicyclist on Jun 3, 2008
tj
By MIKEY on Jun 3, 2008
What i want to know is.. Who was taking the photo? and how did they get it? Just seems odd. I know it is an obvious accident but what is the story behind the photographer?
By Laura on Jun 3, 2008
Take note of the lead car (police car). What’s he doing on the wrong side of the road? The coward veered hard to the left to avoid the drunk and let the peloton take the full impact of the Chevy. His job was to protect them but he saved his butt instead. If he had plowed into the Chevy it would have stopped it cold. Sure the lead riders would have run into the back of the cop car, but I’ll take that over a head on any day.
By Jim on Jun 3, 2008
yeah really, I have to go with laura on this one, who grabbed their camera and thought to snap a picture right as they collided? Thats strange…but anyway my prayers go out to those in the accident and their families.
By Nick on Jun 3, 2008
im sorry nick and laura you are two dump people … the person was there to take pics of the race .. if you read the article and not just look at the pics you will see .. and then maybe re-thinking about ever posting again on a web site where you look dumb……..
By tyler on Jun 4, 2008
Did they drop any good loot?
By Anon on Jun 4, 2008
Thanks for the wider photo showing the police car. My first thought when I saw the cropped photo was “Where is the traffic control/police?” It answers my other question as why didn’t the racers see the oncoming car?
They were behind the police escort car and couldn’t see it till he vered out of the way.
Both drivers should face criminal charges.
By Gary on Jun 4, 2008
Jim’s point is excellent: police ‘protection’?
Why bother putting police in front if not to save the riders… too bad for that officer: he should be off-duty permanently…
Ww
By wadawatch on Jun 4, 2008
Mickey, a guy with a video camera was on the spot, busy filming the riders
By Pieter Claassen on Jun 4, 2008
Not to take the real blame and focus off of the puke that is responsible for this tragedy–but…ideally the cop would have stood his ground and protected the riders…obviously that is what he was there for, but I think my first reaction when a car was coming at me head on would be to swerve out of the way too! Too bad he did not have the wherewithal to think through the consequences of him giving up his ground. probably a split second, thoughtless knee-jerk reaction he will regret for the rest of his life. AND his swerving at the last minute undoubtedly made it so that the bikes did not see the car coming until it was too late. Sad situation
By douglas on Jun 4, 2008
This is very bad and sad. We all need to keep our heads on a swivel at all times. Which means looking in all directions every 30 second or so. Because the folks in the cars think that they have more rights to the road.
Bicyclist you are bigoted. Your comment that the driver was American (as if to say we American should have compassion for him because he is) and that the Mexican police where most likely more drunker that he. Just does not fly man. I think you should educate yourself a little more.
By cycliseinAlameda on Jun 4, 2008
A LOT of colorful cyclists in broad daylight (look in the background of the close-up), this driver must either have been blind, or psychotic. I’m going with the latter since I can’t see brake lights, as that is what sane people do when they lose control of the vehicle.
By Jeff on Jun 4, 2008
The police escort could have prevented this from happening.His job is to do exactly what he didn’t do.
There are photogrephers all over the place im sure they seen it coming a mile away
By tommy on Jun 4, 2008
Cops are cowardly lions in costumes complete with shiny cars with scary lights… Just like Columbine, they put their swat suits on and ‘rushed’ the school after the kids wasted everyone! Cool. Same stuff, different day… Cool Dodge Charger cop car! Wusatolla driving it!
Cops are lilly-livers! Pathetic.
Probably caused it by scaring the cokehead driver! Who should be shot, on the scene, and call it an accident!
By chuck on Jun 4, 2008
I lol’d.
By EFG on Jun 5, 2008
The reason why everyones being so hard on him was because this WASNT an accident! The guy was drunk and apparently asleep at the wheel. Was it an accident that he kept drinking. I’m sure he wasnt thinking of anyone but himself when he said “can I have another?”. So,yes, I agree with most, he should be left alone in a room with the family members of those he’s killed/injured.
By Responding to Bicyclist on Jun 5, 2008
Such a great picture, but what an idiot, its amazing that only 1 person died.
By antiques on Jun 5, 2008
Why was that COP in the wrong lane? Looks like to me that the COP caused the driver to swerve into the pack of cyclists.
By Mince Meat on Jun 5, 2008
whats with everybody saying the driver should be killed!? :O wtf is that all about? you cant kill someone as a punishment for an accident! just think, if you had such an accident, the guilt alone would be punishment enough, i’d even like to say he should’t be punished at all, thats the meaning of an ACCIDENT
By me on Jun 5, 2008
They should give the guy a medal. Too bad he only got one. The more of these idiot we get off the road the better.
By Steven Q. Stanley on Jun 5, 2008
I hate gangs of bikers that take up a whole lane of the highway and act like they own the roads. They think they are in the Tour De France when they really are just impeding traffic and act like jerks and think they are better than everyone else. Well if you want the road you can have it - you get the risks involved too. Don’t think you are better than everyone else - if you are dumb enough to think you can take on a 2 ton piece of moving metal and you are on a 5 pound bike, I guess you aren’t as smart as you thought you were. All of you just piss people off and this is what happens…go find a bike path and get off of the roads!
By BikerHater on Jun 5, 2008
I have been to Mexico and have indeed seen and heard drunk/corrupted federalis (officers). Not to say that is the case here, but there are a LOT of drunk mexican police! Go to T.J. sometime and look around.
By AAron on Jun 5, 2008
If that happened around my group there would be no need to call the cops on that bandido.
Accident my ass. People are going to remember that ride for a lifetime of hurt.
By CRAZYTRAILDOWHILLER&ROADIE on Jun 5, 2008
BikerHater…you’re a moron.
By Griffin on Jun 5, 2008
i live about an hour and change away from where this happened. what’s with everyone wanting to know about the “mysterious camera man”? if you MUST know, this was an annual race from Matamoros to the Baghdad Beach (that’s just the name of it, no ties to Iraq rocket scientists), and it was being covered by photojournalists since they need something to put in their newspaper between the Army vs Drug Cartel violence and the executions of high ranking police officials. The name of the photographer is Jose Fidelino Vera Hernandez (say that 5 times fast), who works freelance for El Mañana de Matamoros and it was released through the Associated Press.
By ian on Jun 5, 2008
BikeHater, your ignorance & lack of education is staggering. You’re wrong on about 4 fronts. As a matter of fact, cyclist DO belong on the road. They have EXACTLY the same rights & obligations as a car–read up on your law–but you don’t know that because you’ve never bothered to learn the facts about anything your entire life. YOU’RE the one who thinks he’s better than everyone else, not the cyclists. You’re the one who honks at the people who have just as much a right to be there as you. And yes, they can take up as much of the road as they want, just like a car–it’s just a courtesy we give you by pulling over as far as we can. And furthermore, when it’s a race, there are police escorts (look at the pic, bozo) so they had a right to the whole road specifically in this case. But even so, yes, they have the same rights as a car–such as the right to not get hit by a drunk driver who’s plowing along in the wrong lane. And trust me, most cyclists can control their bikes much better than you can control your car. It’s people like you who think you can’t get around cyclists on the road when you actually can just fine–you just haven’t bothered to work on your driving skills enough. We should chuck you into the jail cell along w/ the jackass who was behind the wheel. People with attitudes like yours have no place in decent society…
By Matthew on Jun 5, 2008
My take on it. When you’re racing a bicycle you’re concetrating on what’s directly infront of you, not down the road. From the way things were flying the car was probably going pretty fast. It’s a wide road and the cop car was probably staying in the oncoming traffic lane to get traffic to move over to the shoulder and stay out of the way of the cyclist. Not much you can do when confronted with a coked up (or something, probably) kid driving a big American car. I feel sorry for the cyclists and I pray the driver gets (censored) justice.
By george dillaway on Jun 5, 2008
@george dillaway - when you’re racing competitively, you don’t actually look at the road immediately ahead. in fact, you look further ahead, like when you’re driving a car. the cyclists had to have seen the car coming, but probably didn’t have enough time to get out of the way and probably didn’t expect the guy to really plow through them.
By California Correspondent on Jun 6, 2008
Wow, the comments by scuba Steve and Bikehater are both thoughtless expressions coming from two very ignorant archaic beings whose geneology hasn’t quite evolved. My theory…grey matter of about 200CC or less, a subdural hematoma from falling off their tricycles at age 3(no helmet), or perhaps parental detachment anxiety from weaning off the teat and training wheels late into their adolescence. Yup,,Magic 8-ball says “outlook does not look good”…they just never fully recovered and couldn’t fit in with society. Sorry dudes, but my real prediction says you failed your driver’s license test several times…are now a couch potato sloth, live at home with your parents and play Halo all night.
P.S. I hope you idiots haven’t reproduced or have no plans to do so. Your the ones we need to remove off the road and send back to pre-K.
Signed,
Avid Mountain Biker…I guess I just have a single track mind.
By Richard on Jun 6, 2008
Matthew is on point….pay attention people!!!
By cyclor on Jun 6, 2008
OMG ! this is terrible, no video ! Oh well at least some new wallpaper for windows, funniest thing since I was lucky enough to witness a bike geek stoppie over a dog and face plant on the pavement ! Bowling for bikers ! STEEEE-RIKE !
“As a matter of fact, cyclist DO belong on the road. They have EXACTLY the same rights & obligations as a car–read up on your law”
Yeah right, as long as you don’t have to abide by traffic laws, stop signs, red lights, etc.
No more to be said except maybe BWAAAA-HWA-HWA.
By Bowling4bikers on Jun 6, 2008
ok look at biker hater’s comment how retarted can one person be? it is a BIKE RACE they get the whole lane retard why the hell would there be no cars on the road? the driver was DRUNK idiot! he went on a closed road that was reserved for the bike race! you need some eyes or go to a mental facility! IT IS A F****** bike race!
By very angry @ biker hater on Jun 6, 2008
I cannot believe this happened. I know it was an accident, but… was it an accident this person CHOSE to drive his car; it was a (not so conscious)decision, not a good one, but a decision that he chose. No on forced him behind the wheel. I know personally that I have slept one off in the car, or wherever to avoid driving drunk. 15 years ago I would have done this, but not now. I am well versed in stupidity ask my parents. I guess wisdom and compassion come with age. AS FOR Bowling for Bikers GFY and hold the KY.
By Hit by car before on Jun 7, 2008
Christ, bloggers are the scum of the earth. You didn’t even CREDIT http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23802024-5001021,00.html let alone REFRAIN FROM STEALING THEIR CONTENT. You maggot-worm-shit-cunt-troll-fuck-bacterium. Die.
By Evan Harper on Jun 8, 2008
So sad… but LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why cant the bikers that ride the winding country roads with 55mph speed limits that I drive down get hit like this?
By Ashley on Jun 17, 2008
And three in a row makes a turkey.
By Recruitment Process Outsourcing on Jun 25, 2008
what the heck
what i an idiot, thats what happens when you drink, you do stupid things like drive
By Austin O. on Sep 9, 2008
holy crap how the hell did that happen
By mattresses on Sep 30, 2008
lol funny, this is ftw like bugs on a wind shield lmao rofl!!!
By bryan peewee on Oct 13, 2008
bryan peewee, this is serious bidness.
its not bugs on a windshield its a combo breaker!!!
By bryan peewinkle on Oct 13, 2008
yea… your right… hes not gonna win the tour de france lmao thats what happens when you wanna use the front of a car as a ramp, its like mario cart extreme, the car was playin pac man.
KILLTACULAR, KILLIONAIRE, Extermination, killjoy! SPLATTER SPREE,
By bryan peewee on Oct 13, 2008
Take a look at http://www.cyclingjack.blogspot.com
By Jack on Oct 23, 2008
wow yea i kno the 14 well now hes 15 hes in my 4th period class in san benito texas his name is omar castrillo
By mark on Mar 27, 2009
Bikes do NOT have the same rights as cars, no tax, no insurance, no road worthiness tests, NO RIGHTS, DIPSHIT. You amaze me, someone has a different point of view to you so you call them retarded and insult their ancestry. Yet you advocate gangs of people beating a man when you don’t know the facts. The article makes no mention of drink or drugs, you just assume. Maybe he was in a diabetic coma, maybe he had a heart attack, there are more possibilities than you can consider. Also, if you look, the guy at the FRONT actually got out of the way of the car. If the others were too stupid to follow his example then they deserved what they got.
By bikerhaterlover on Apr 1, 2009
Know i’am better and i am already riding again
and this is just a message for the people that think that getting run over is going to stop them from the things they do.
By omar castro on May 26, 2009
o and i forgot to tell you that i am the one in green or yellow jersey on top of the car i hope that the other cyclist get better like me
By omar castro on May 26, 2009
and for those that talk shit like bikerhaterlover i wish that this happens to him and that he actually gets hurt
By ghost rider on May 26, 2009