BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) -- A Brunswick County teenager is recovering tonight after being hit by a Sheriff's deputy at 50 miles per hour.
"I didn't even want to get out of bed, so I've just have been sleeping all day," 14-year-old Andrew Walton said.
Just by looking at Walton it's hard to believe that he was hit by a car while on his bike Wednesday night. He says he and his friend Jake King were riding along Danford Road near Bolivia after dark when the unexpected happened.
"We're going down the road," Walton said. "I had dropped my phone. I don't remember who picked it up. Then I just looked down, then I looked the other way and just saw headlights in my face."
The headlights were that of Brunswick County Sheriff Dep. Andrew Lentz. He swerved, but ended up hitting Walton.
"Then I remember waking up on the pavement and Jake dragging me off," Walton said.
Lentz's car ended up near this phone pole on the side of the road. Walton was taken to a hospital in Wilmington. He was released a few hours later with no serious injuries, but it's an experience he'll never forget.
"I thank the Lord that I'm still alive and here," Walton said. "Just a life-changing experience."
Highway Patrol investigators say Dep. Lentz appears to have done nothing wrong, adding that Walton caused the wreck because he wasn't paying attention and drove his bike out onto the road.
maybe he technically did nothing wrong
but that's because the laws of this state offer no protection whatsover to cyclists. If a cyclist is in the road and gets hit by a car, it's his fault no matter what (a cop told me that in fact). All risk is assumed by the cyclist. That's they way the laws are written in North Carolina and it really didn't matter where in the road the kid was, he still would have been declared at fault because there was no bike lane.
The fact that most posters here defend the motorist, not the cyclist shows just how dangerous this place is for teens who are stuck navigating the roads on bikes amongst these psychopaths. Just remember kids: motorists won't mourn your death much less show you any pity for getting hit by a car going 50 MPH. It's all your fault for being too young or poor to own a car!
Do you want to read the REAL facts?
First of all, I'm an avid cyclist myself and I'll shed some light on your opinionated "guessing" of the facts as you call them.
First of all, you are dead wrong that the "cyclist is always at fault". That simply isn't true and I can't imagine a police officer providing you with that "myth". I know a lot of police officers that are riders as well.
Second, it is well known that few cyclists actually obey the rules of the road as they are supposed to. The run straight through red lights, stop signs, bypass traffic in "NO" lanes and pretty much just do as they want with total disregard to even basic traffic laws. Cyclists are held to the same rules and regs that drivers are held to. If you fail to follow them, you face the same consequences except that the biker always loses...and whines about it. I see this each and every day!
Third, the majority of bikers fail to properly mark themselves with lighting during the twilight hours. They are smaller and more difficult to see in the best of situations. The lack of lights and bright colors at sunset and sunrise will almost camoflage them. Oh and by the way, Superman, Wonderwoman and the Fantastic 4 colors on the jerseys don't qualify as lighting, no matter how bright.
Fourth, just because you are on a bike doesn't mean that you own the road and that everyone else needs to take the ditch to avoid you. A biker is much smaller, has less mass, is more difficult to see, cannot maintain traffic speed and will ALWAYS lose in the case of contact by a motor vehicle. Common sense, prudent judgement and fear will assist in keeping you alive. Ride tight to the right!
Now...these points I've just highlighted come from my direct knowledge of serious cyclists. You throw in the drunks, the kids on drugs, the one's on cell phones and the others that are just stupid or don't give a darn and you have a real serious problem!!!
As for your non-sensical comment, "motorists won't mourn your death much less show you any pity for getting hit by a car going 50 MPH. It's all your fault for being too young or poor to own a car!", is the most rediculous statement I've ever heard! Nobody, with the exception of a criminal would injure or kill a cyclist on purpose. It has nothing to do with age or socio-economic background, it has EVERYTHING to do with the prudent use of common sense while riding a bicycle in the middle of motor vehicular traffic!
Once again
Real facts? Are there any other kind. I mean, facts is facts, eh? Isn't that an absolute word w/o degree? Hmmm.
I too am a cyclist..
D@mn good post! **Fourth** is spot on IMHO. I ride as if my life depends on how well I share the road.... because it does!
Yup
as a cyclist myself...it makes me SICK to hear my peers and the ATTITUDES about cars and riding on roads..this is coming from sometimes WELL educated individuals that you think would GET IT...seems like just after they clip in...they loose their minds...FACT..no matter if you are wrong or right...if you get into an accident with a car..YOU LOOSE! Doing things on the road to PURPOSELY infuriate drivers...IS STUPID and does nothing but HURT our cause....A VERY small minority actually ride the roads as they should by law...
Speed Limit on that road??
What is the speed limit on the road where Walton was hit? It still does not excuse him from being in the middle of the road but if the deputy was speeding there is a degree of wrong-doing on his part.
If the deputy was speeding?
Tell me, when was the last time you saw any police officer driving the speed limit or under it? From what I have observed in my 37 years of driving they drive as fast as they choose to drive and the posted speed limit signs mean nothing to them. They feel they are above the law of our roadways and they know they can get away with it because all the other law enforcement officers are doing the same thing. Too bad we don't have someone out there to enforce the speed limit for them and ticket them for speeding just like we get when we do the same.
55
55
Speed Limit
I lived on Danford Rd. for 20 years, the speed limit for the extent of the road is 55 until you hit Bolivia city limits where it goes to 35. The Sheriff's Deputies routinely drive well in excess of this speed limit, and many times they are going by at DANGEROUS speeds.
Why this story?
Lemme get this straight: kid rides bike into the middle of the road, at night, with no lights. I'm going to guess he was texting as well. And he gets 15 seconds of fame on television? Really. REALLY? This is NOT must see TV.
Justin's comment
Justin,
I guess if you read the entire article you already know where the accident occured. I would be more than glad to meet you there, at your convience of course, to discuss your recent narrow minded opinion of what events occurred during the course of this accident.
It is quite obvious that you are not capable of producing offspring...THANK GOD
It is people like you that make me sick to my stomach
Meet me there and maybe you can receive this 15 seconds of fame that you speak of?
Really
Gotta love the internet
Gotta love the internet tough guys
LOL
He's SO BAD he left his full name and contact so he could be called out on it...LOL..go back and get some milk from mommy little one!
Boy recovers after being hit by deputy's cruiser
I am glad Walton is doing well and there were no serious injuries. And there it is again in black and white print...police officer did no wrong. An officer beats you, kicks you around,damages your personal property,curses you out,gets all up in your face with volgur words and the people sitting in the police department thinks "he's" done no wrong. Wake up people. All officers are not good officers. I've seen some bad ones do some mean things to people who didn't deserve to be treated that way. Wake up!
Judging?
Well, the story doesnt state where in the road he was, what kind of clothing he had on, any street lights, etc. I am not saying either was in the wrong but if you are going around a corner at the posted speed limit and the kid was in the road with all dark clothes on, stopped...... Is there an at fault situtation? I could list alot of things but glad everyone is ok. Just seems Guest55t wants to flog the police officer, not knowing the whole situtation.
Judging?
Need I repeat myself? ALL OFFICERS are not good officers. It's a true fact. Just wait until you run into one that's bad. Especially when he's had a bad day or night before he gets to YOU. They tend to take it out on others. Case closed.
Thank you for your recent comments though.
You can't be serious?
The kid wasn't contesting anything? He said he stopped in the middle of the road? What is your problem? Or maybe you are just trying to instigate one? Wow. What a thoughtless post. I agree, police are not always good, and many make bad judgement calls but geez. Get a life. This is a very simple situation. Don't make anything more out of it than what it is.
I'm thankful this kid isn't an aquaintance of or related to you, because we'd all be screwed. It's good to see for once someone not blaming someone else for something they did. With the ignorance that is rampant lately, I half expected a lawsuit and loss of a job for the deputy.
To the kid who got hit: Way to be a responsible person and not blame a mistake on someone else. You are on your way to becoming a man, unlike the individual above this post