MASON CITY – There was a near-tragedy in downtown Mason City Monday afternoon, when a driver turned into the path of a bicyclist towing a baby, crossing the street with a green light.
Mason City police tell NIT that the incident took place Monday at about 3:15 PM, when a collision was reported near State Street and Washington Avenue.
Annette Cockrell, age 51 of Mason City, was driving a Dodge Dart westbound on State Street, preparing to turn left and go south on Washington Avenue, near the former Bank of America building. Nicole Fletcher, age 31 of Mason City, was pedaling a bicycle with a bicycle baby trailer attached, eastbound through the intersection crosswalk on State Street. Cockrell is believed to have the green light but allegedly proceeded through the intersection into the path of Fletcher and the attached baby carrier, and struck the bicyclist in the crosswalk when she turned south.
A 5-month-old infant was inside the bicycle baby trailer at the time of the collision.
Police were called to the scene. A number of persons were viewed there, gathering shortly after the accident. At least one woman was emotional and was standing alone, leaning against the bank building, sobbing. A man came to her to offer comfort.
Officers investigated the accident and Cockrell was cited for Failure to Yield to Pedestrian within the intersection.
Police say Fletcher may have some soreness and/or complaint of pain due to the collision. The baby that was in the trailer was transported to the hospital to be checked out. There was no word on his/her condition.
Police were double-checking to see if the bicycle rider was legally crossing the street, as she was in a cross walk while riding the bike. NIT will clarify if police have an update.
Texting and driving causes this shit
Personal problems? She needs to jump off a cliff
A bicycle isn’t a motorized vehicle and she had a baby in the little trailer. A person would think a crosswalk would be a good place to cross to keep that baby safe. 🙁
The biggest mistake Matt Marquardt made was turning over the keys to the Asylum to the inmates. Allowing readers to censor comments is such a stupid policy. I mean seriously, Matt’s relying on ?Unknowns? for judgment to delete and report comments? Ludicrous. The sooner he abolishes this ridiculous policy the sooner NIT will recover from its bad reputation.
they were probably playing pokemon go
When I lived in Mason City A car pulled out in front of me in front of the Park Inn Hotel. I received a $467.00 ticket for riding my bike on the sidewalk even though the car didn’t yield at a the crosswalk and didn’t have any Auto Ins. According to city code its against the law to ride the bike between Commerical Ave and Monroe Ave on the sidewalk. I wasn’t aware of this at all. no signs are posted anyplace and I asked if the city has a city code or other laws that take place but it take the act of the wrong doing for it to be enforced… YES, the the judge said its $750.00 for jay-walking. I went to a city Mtg about this manner asked if a sign could be posted i was told it would ruin the outside decor of the Park Inn Hotel. I also asked why a 50ft Limo can Park where it does in front of the Hotel, block the view of sidewalk and street traffic and not have to pay a parking fee? There answer was that it would Detour $$$ from coming into the city and revenue would be lost. but a injured person is better? they had no answer and was brushed off and nothing resolved like usual. the MCPD can’t even lock the car doors of the police cars to prevent Gun theft. they still cant even find JODI H. yet
Mason Shitty is Bogus! its no wonder why the younger generation doesn’t stay its a Trap!,no jobs, shitty pay, shitty housing, Lots of druggies, Porch Mama’s on Monroe, Its a DIVE!
I’m not sticking up for the car driver, but if I’m not mistaken, it is against city law/code to ride a bicycle on the sidewalks in the business district of town. It’s another one of the city rules that never gets enforced until something happens. We paid thousands of dollars to have sharrow designs to be painted all over town. It’s my understanding that along with the designs, bicycle riders are/were supposed to obey all traffic signs/signals, of which they don’t. I hope the child is OK.
Maybe this accident was the fault of the auto, but if law enforcement would arest the bike riders for not stoping for stop signs and riding without hands maybe that would cut down the mishaps, and they should have to have lis. on the bikes
The rider didn’t run a stop sign, wasn’t riding without hands, and a license on their bike? What the hell difference would that have made?
Please run for city council. You seem like the real deep thinking kind this city needs.
Loud pipes could have prevented this.
What about a flag for trailer being so low. Handicaps scooters are higher and your suppose to have one there to. To many distractions for drivers also.
Looks to me like the former Bank of America building, not US Bank building….
Yes you are right, and that change is made. Thank you for correcting that!
I’ve seen a lot of these baby trailers and I have to say I disagree. Motorists are simply too negligent, distracted and selfish to trust putting your child on the road with them. Please DO NOT ride your kids around anywhere except maybe a bicycle trail or park.
Aside from fault, I find it hard to imagine someone putting a 5 month old in one of those unsafe things. I mean, really? One wouldn’t drive around without a car seat in car protected by steel and air bags, why a flimsy tent on wheels in the street? It’s unfortunate.
I hope the baby is O.K. People on bikes must learn to obey the traffic laws and ride defensively. I see a woman all the time pulling her baby right down the middle of the street. It is child endangerment to do that.
Lol it NOT not child endangerment. Bicylists have as much right to the road any cars, this includes approved trailers. They must obey all laws as drivers do though, including adhering to minimum speed limits as some roads have them. It’s better if they stay in the middle of their lane instead of on the side by parked cars. They’re camouflaged that way and harder to see.
Has anyone seen a bike rider get a ticket. Not saying all bike riders are bad but everyday I see one run through a stop sign,run through a red light, side on sidewalk. Just wondering if a cop would run one down to give a ticket like they would a driver. Of course many of the people are on bikes because they’ve had their drivers license taken away.
you should probably review what the legal definition of child endangerment is.
Child endangerment is defined as being born into a lower class, tobacco using family in Mason City, hovering below the poverty line.