Cape man remains hospitalized after bicycle accident
A Cape Coral bicyclist was improving at the hospital Tuesday after a weekend crash.
Lenny Charles Roberts, 53, was listed in fair condition at Lee Memorial Hospital, where he was transported Saturday following the accident on Hancock Bridge Parkway, according to officials.
At about 3 p.m., Cape police received a call about about a man lying on the sidewalk next to a bicycle in the 300 block of Hancock Bridge Parkway. The man was bleeding heavily from a head injury.
When officers arrived, the bicyclist was identified as Roberts. Conscious but unable to provide any information about what had occurred, he was trauma-alerted with a life threatening head injury.
An investigation revealed that Roberts had been traveling west on the sidewalk on an electric motorized bicycle. The bicycle has a 500-watt motor and top speed of no more than 20 mph.
A heavy duty security chain had been attached to the bicycle under the seat, then zip-tied in several places along the “sissy bar.” About 2 inches of the chain had been dangling loose and could have been extended long enough to entangle in the front and rear tire spokes of the bicycle, officials reported.
The loose end of the chain had been attached to the bottom of the handle bar by a small “J” shaped hook and may have disconnected and fallen into the front spokes. Evidence at the scene indicated the front tire stopped spinning freely and skidded, causing Roberts to flip forward over the handle bar.
There was no evidence to indicate that he collided with or had been struck by a vehicle.
The accident is not alcohol or drug related, according to officials.