Corte Madera, California, councilman Pat Ravasio who is chairman of the city’s Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee was in two accidents on April 15, 2018. Ravasio was taking his normal bike route from the city to West Marin when the bike that he was riding eastbound on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard when he was struck by a Prius driven by Michael Bacigalupi, 60, of Woodacre, California. The accident that occurred on the descent from White’s Hill into Fairfax left Ravasio with multiple injuries.
Then, Pat Ravasio was being taken to the hospital by ambulance when the vehicle was struck by a car on the same road near Sir Francis Drake High School. A witness to the accident reports that the car’s teen driver pulled in front of the ambulance which jerked to the side avoiding a t-bone accident. Other ambulances were dispatched transporting two medics, the driver of the car that had been pulling onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from Sierra Avenue.
This stretch of highway is often used by cyclists. Yet, they report that the lack of shoulder on the descent makes it a dangerous situation. The law says that all cars must stay at least three feet away from a bicycle when passing, but they report that numerous drivers do not follow the law.
While Ravasio remains in intensive care with a broken collarbone, broken ribs, a possible concussion and pieces of the helmet possibly embedded into his scalp, he is expected to make a full recovery. He is running for election to the city council after being appointed to his current post. The election will occur on July 5, 2018.