A sad day…
Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr., executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, was killed Thursday when he was hit by a driver while riding his bike in Tampa. He was 75. Collins, the son of former Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins, was crossing a street when he was hit by an SUV just before 7 a.m. Police said the accident was under investigation. Collins had a home on Davis Islands in the Tampa area.
Gov. Charlie Crist, who appointed the retired Navy and Navy Reserve admiral to head up the state’s veterans affairs agency, announced Collins’ death during a Cabinet meeting.
It’s truly ironic that Admiral Collins survived the flight deck of an aircraft carrier (Admiral Collins was a pilot) for years but was killed at home in something as senseless as this.
Prayers and deepest sympathies to Admiral Collins’ family and friends.
As an avid cyclist myself, I presume the driver of the SUV was at fault, and I hope s/he is identified and brought to justice.
The First Rule of bicycling on the public streets is the same as the one for motorcycles: Assume you’re invisible!
And the second rule is like unto it: If they *can* see you, they will try to kill you!
Yah, it’s paranoia, but it’ll keep you alive a LOT longer, and with all the impaired (drunk/stoned/stoopid) drivers out there it’s just darn good advice. I survived ten years of riding my bike and motorcycle around Portland Oregon traffic, I know whereof I speak…
Godspeed, Admiral!
Igor
Bob – indeed. It’s irony is indeed very sad.
RIP Admiral
sa-LUTE!
Godspeed, sir.
The reportage there reminds me of something that Rus likes to point out. It’s written as if the SUV chose to hit him, with no mention of the driver.