FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Shocking video shows a driver hitting bicyclists over the weekend in Fort Lauderdale.
The video was taken in the area of Oakland Park Boulevard and A1A Saturday. As the driver turns at the intersection, they are seen veering into the bike line and striking a group of bicyclists.
The driver then keeps going and hits another bicyclist.
One man seen in the video wearing a hot pink shirt was thrown off his bicycle after impact. He was identified as Scott McCraken, who was in down for the weekend visiting friends.
According to police, McCraken said he, “was bleeding from his arms and legs” after being hit.
Police said the incident is under investigation and has not been classified yet as a hit-and-run.
Investigators are hoping to speak to more witnesses and want to find out more about the circumstances that led up to the bicyclists being struck.
Police would like the driver to come forward, and added that CAD (Computer-aided dispatch) indicated bricks had been thrown at the vehicle.
Fort Lauderdale police told Local 10 News Monday morning that they were not provided any video at the time of the incident, but confirmed that they responded to the area after receiving multiple calls for service regarding a group of 100 to 300 bicyclists “disrupting traffic, blocking bridges, surrounding vehicles, and vandalizing vehicles.”
Police said they also received a call about a driver running someone over, but when officers arrived, they weren’t able to locate any victims.
The incident happened just days after new safety measures were implemented for bicyclists in Miami-Dade County, like new bike barriers, which now line parts of the Rickenbacker Causeway.
It’s one of several safety changes made after two cyclists were hit and killed by a driver May 15 while riding in the bike lane near the William Powell Bridge.
“We talked about the fact that it will happen again if nothing gets done, and sadly it did,” cycling safety advocate Maribel Reyes said.
Miami-Dade County also installed new signs, warning drivers to be alert while also reducing the posted speed limit.
Cycling safety advocates say these actions have long been necessary.
“You know, the county could and should have done something sooner,” Eli Stiers said. “Two additional people had to die, you know, to spur some sort of reaction from the county.”
Police are still investigating the incident in Fort Lauderdale, and ask anyone who may have been victimized or anyone who has video of the incident to contact them at (954) 828-5567 or (954) 828-6070.