Teen Bicyclist Killed in New Jersey by Atlantic City Detective

19-year-old Patrick Dutton of Mays Landing was killed when his bicycle was hit by an SUV on Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township.

Dutton was riding his bicycle home from a job at a ShopRite store at 6:30 p.m. when he was struck by the Ford Explorer driven by Steven Rando, of Egg Harbor Township. Rando is an Atlantic City detective.

The pike is a well-lit four-lane road. The bicycle was reportedly traveling in the roadway, rather than on the shoulder. The weather was not a factor in the accident.

In 2010, 13 people were killed in bike accidents in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Common causes of collisions between bicycles and cars include distracted or inattentive drivers, failure to yield the right of way, and failure to obey stoplights and stop signs.

New Jersey motorists are required to respect the rights of bicycle riders on the roadways and yield to them when changing lanes, turning, or pulling out of a driveway. Motorists must also not pass or follow a bicycle too closely.

Under New Jersey statutes, bicyclists must ride as close to the right side of the road as possible and must exercise care when passing motor vehicles.

Bicyclists must use front and rear lights while traveling at night. Bikes must be equipped with a bell or whistle or other audible signals and must have working brakes. Bicyclists may not drive with their feet removed from the pedals or both hands removed from the handlebars, and may not practice tricks or fancy driving in the street. It’s prohibited for a bicycle to carry more passengers than the bicycle has seats for, or for a bicyclist to hitch a ride by holding onto a motor vehicle.

Bicyclists under age 17 must wear safety helmets. The same law applies to roller and inline skates and skateboards.

New Jersey bike regulations can be found by clicking here.

If you or a family member were injured in a bike accident, contact a New Jersey bicycle accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C.