The Star-Advertiser: 5 cyclists hurt, 2 motorists held in dust-up on Century Ride
By Star- Advertiser staff
POSTED: Apr 27, 2014
LAST UPDATED: Apr 28, 2014
A confrontation between a 22-year-old driver and participants in a bicycle North Shore bicycling event on Sunday resulted in the arrest of the driver and his passenger, injuries to five people, and one smashed bicycle.
Chad Taniguchi, executive director of the Hawaii Bicylcling League, said the incident started when the two men in the car began arguing with cyclists participating in the league’s Haleiwa Metric Century Ride. According to Taniguchi, the driver knocked down three cyclists and ran over one bicycle with his vehicle.
Taniguchi was passing by in a support vehicle and witnessed the confrontation. He and another race officer attempted to intervene but were assaulted by the driver, Taniguchi said.
“He was very aggressive and threatening and we just tried to calm the situation down,” Taniguchi said.
Taniguchi said he believed the driver and his passenger were drinking in the car and said that he witnessed one of the men tossing a bottle of alcohol out of the vehicle before police arrived.
Police arrested the driver on suspicion of two counts of third-degree assault. He was released on $1,000 bail.
The 23-year-old male passenger was also arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault but released without charges.
About 900 people participated in the race.
