Nearly every Saturday for 15 years, Key Biscayne’s Carlos Mendia would meet his brother-in-law coming from Coral Gables at the entrance of the Rickenbacker Causeway to ride on their bicycles all the way to Starbucks in the Village during a 30-mile route of loops overlooking the Miami skyline.
Last Saturday, however, was different — and tragic.
Gilbert Beauperthuy, 63, was going to ride alone this time and was on his way until the driver of a vehicle allegedly swerved into the green bike lane at about 8:30 a.m., smashing the bicycle with enough impact to shatter the windshield and tossing the rider onto the pavement.
Beauperthuy remained in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital as of Tuesday morning.
“He is getting excellent care, but it is tragic,” Mendia told Islander News. “He will be handicapped, paralyzed. We are all hoping for the best.”
Mendia had reached out for help from the public and received several statements from witnesses and even a post-collision video showing the damage to the vehicle and his brother-in-law being wheeled on a gurney.
“The public has been extremely helpful,” Mendia said.
Just two months ago, Mendia raised concerns in an Islander News story of the dangers arising from packs of bicyclists and speeding vehicles on the causeway and, especially, on the roadways leading in and out of the Village.
“I blame the county for not doing something, for the speed,” Mendia said. “It’s not the first time we’ve had issues.”
Now, he has to deal with this tragic event, one that will take quite awhile, if ever, to recover from.
“He’s (Gilbert) an incredible individual and doesn’t deserve what happened to him,” Mendia said.
Miami Police officials told Islander News they would release a police report upon the conclusion of their investigation.
Mendia is asking the public for any additional information or dash-cam videos by calling or texting (305) 479-6889.