"I saw the black car using the left hand turn lane to come across the road," Purcell recalled. "All I could do was brace for impact."
Purcell said the collision’s impact threw him in an opposite direction from his original direction.
"My body hit his car. I could hear it. The next thing I knew, I was flying through the air. I hit the ground. As soon as I hit the ground, I knew I was in trouble," the bicyclist said.
Purcell suffered multiple injuries that includes broken ribs and a collapsed lung. He will undergo months of rehabilitation.
According to the accident report, speed was not a factor in the crash. The driver who crashed into Purcell was cited for failure to yield in a turn. Purcell believes the driver was likely distracted.
Purcell and other cyclists say there are too many accidents and near misses between cars and people on bikes. He's urging more respect and attention to safety.
"I have a right to that road just like any other car does," said Purcell.
By law, Cyclists are required to follow the same rules on the road as drivers, and drivers are required to treat bikes the same way they would any other vehicle.
"Slow down. Share the road. Respect that we're out there, even if you don't like to do it. As cyclists, we have to share the road too," Purcell offered.
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