Bicyclist killed in crash with deputy's car
By: Kelsey Volkmann - Examiner Staff Writer
A Carroll County sheriff?s deputy struck and killed a bicyclist with his patrol car Tuesday night in Westminster, bringing the total number of bicycle-related fatalities in Maryland to five this year.
Cpl. Carlos Bustos, a five-year veteran of the Carroll County Sheriff?s Office, was patrolling eastbound on Route 140, east of the Route 27 overpass, when his patrol car collided with a bicyclist who was crossing a dark section of Route 140 from the TownMall of Westminster, said Lt. Phil Kasten, spokesman for the Carroll County Sheriff?s Office.
Westminster Fire Department paramedics pronounced the bicyclist, Mario Garcia Salgado, 25, of Westminster, dead on the scene.
Bustos was transported to Carroll Hospital Center, where he was treated for cuts to his left arm and hand. He is now on administrative leave while investigators piece together an accident reconstruction, which could take several weeks.
Several streetlights in that area were not working, Kasten said, and that may have led to the fatal wreck. Salgado was not wearing a helmet; Maryland law requires bicyclists under the age of 16 to wear a helmet.
Capt. Randy Barnes, Westminster police spokesman, said he did not know whether Salgado?s bike had reflective gear or a light, which are required for night riding. Failure to comply can result in a $40 fine, said 1st Sgt. Russ Newell, state police spokesman.
Maryland State Police said this incident is the second fatal bicycle-related wreck in Carroll County so far this year. Jennifer Michele Clayton, 38, of Westminster, died last month after being struck by a car in New Windsor, according to state police.
BY THE NUMBERS
Number of bicycle-related fatalities in Maryland:
» 1999: 6
» 2000: 6
» 2001: 13
» 2002: 7
» 2003: 6
» 2004: 12
» 2005: 7
» 2006: 5
Source: State Highway Administration
B' Spokes: Additionally per FARS <a href="http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/People/PeoplePedalcyclists.aspx">http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/People/PeoplePedalcyclists.aspx</a>;
2007: 7
2008: 6
2009: 11
Related: 2009 Bike/ped fatalities by county <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20101101220408408">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20101101220408408</a>;