Runner Scott Birk killed in crash

I grew up in this area. Used to run old 183. Took 620 to school. It has gotten so busy with traffic its almost impossible to do a run here. I drive away from the city to get my runs. Thoughts go out to Scott and his family.

There's not near enough on here about Scott, the person.

Scott was a beast; 6'5", 185 lbs, zero body fat "the man in

black" could run. Ran 18.00 for 5k at age 48 this spring.

Always cheerful, great rival, & smart enough & successful enough professionally, he could live his life his way.

Initial reports described him as a jogger in his late 20's

-early 30's. Think Scott may have got a chuckle about both

those descriptions.

Miss you buddy, totally respected you, hope there is a

"Team Scotty" at the Zilker Relays this year.

This is tragic. It makes me glad I have so much access to traffic free paths and trails.

From Dick Beardsley's Facebook:

Our friend, Scott Birk was killed today. The Birk family have set up The Scott Birk Memorial Fund. The proceeds will go towards building a footbridge across RM 2222. Had there been a footbridge at this dangerous intersection, this senseless tragedy probably wouldn’t have happened. You can make a deposit at any Wells Fargo. Scott Birk Memorial Fund- Wells Fargo account # 3037907239"

Question mark wrote:

I think by default (federally) all cell phone/internet ipad device provider records should be checked in the event of a cyclist or pedestrian collision. The word is complacency you drivers who don't keep both hands on the wheel and pay 100% attention to what's on the road should be penalized. Like I said, Birk would know the road conditions after his years of experience. Sorry if I'm offending you responsible drivers, but you drivers are all buddies buddies looking out for each other!

What an idiotic thing to say. It's remarkable how self-righteous some runners can get about flouting traffic laws. In this case, the police report strongly suggests that it was the runner, not the driver, who was at fault, and the consequences were almost certainly devastating for the driver as well as the runner.

Having lived n Austin, I would have a hard time believing that there were no witnesses. 2222 is a freakin' urban highway, and at 9:00 in the morning there should have been more than one truck on this road. It doesn't say so in the article, but maybe that's why police determined that the truck had the green light. :-(

As for approaching a road where a car is turning right (onto the road you are on, running against traffic as you should be), I'd say this is the most dangerous runner/car situation. I've been hit by a driver who didn't look right before making the turn, and almost hit enough times that I don't even take a chance anymore. I just turn left at that road and run around the back of the car.

Be careful out there! I always run facing traffic so I can see what's gonna hit me, and I have been lucky enough to have been able to jump out of the way many times.

I didn't know the guy well, but raced against him a handful of times. When I heard what happened that morning i was pretty shaken. RIP Scott.

Hopefully Austin roads will become safer for runners and cyclists. 2 weeks ago a pedestrian died as a result of a hit and run here in austin. If drivers just looked more and slowed down many of these accidents would have been prevented. It seems people have no more patience anymore.

We've been lucky not to have any car/athlete tragedies in our area. But I fear something will happen eventually. Too many people running/walking in the road, when sidewalks are available on both sides of the road. At night, before dawn, it doesn't seem to matter. And a lot of them hold their ground even as vehicles approach them. I just don't get it. Why make the assumption that a motorist will a) be looking for a runner or walker in the street and/or b) won't be distracted by his/her cell phone, MP3 player, dog, kids, etc.

KSrun wrote:

Too many people running/walking in the road, when sidewalks are available on both sides of the road. At night, before dawn, it doesn't seem to matter.

Ugh -- I am guilty of this. I can tell you one reason I run in the road when there are sidewalks. Our sidewalks are uneven and I am afraid of tripping over one of the many uneven places, especially now when I am recovering from surgery. And at night, those uneven places are even harder to see. But I DON'T hold my ground and I NEVER assume they won't be distracted. I take to the sidewalk/grass/ditch every time a car approaches. Whoever said to act like they will never see you is right. Just get the heck out of the way any time a car is nearing!

There are a couple of things that make this especially hard to take. The first is that Scott was just such a great guy. As mentioned before, he was very big and very fast (broke 2:50 at age 45), but you wouldn't find a nicer guy - extremely modest and gracious. He was the kind of guy who was genuinely more interested in hearing about how your race went than in talking about his own, even when he won his age group.

The other thing is the randomness of it. It wasn't dark or raining, and he wasn't in an unfamiliar place. He just went out for a daily run that he had done hundreds of times before. But this time he didn't come home to his wife and kids.

Scott's death leaves a very big hole in the Austin running community.

This is such sad news. My condolences to Scott's friends and family.

Patience? Clearly, there is a problem with inattentive drivers in the digital age. Just thought of another - device - if the person's cellphone or digital device is on in the vehicle. Then - by default.

1. The cellphone/digital device providers need to cover their ass by enabling a black box feature in the digital device that is accessible by law enforcement.

2. Auto-Insurance providers require the digital device (cellphone, blackberry, whatever that distracts the driver)when THEY ARE ON IN THE AUTO, the driver to be liable!

End of story.

I meant -

2. Auto-Insurance providers require the digital device (cellphone, blackberry, whatever that distracts the driver)when THEY ARE ON IN THE AUTO, the digital device providers to be liable! If the device is found to be a factor in the accident. That's why these big money "cellphone/digital providers" need to be held accountable.

There now I feel so much better! Off for an avocado salad with chicken strips.

Miles Davis wrote:

I tend to think that pretending you're invisible on the roads is better. Never assume that a driver can or will see you.

This is exactly correct. People who get pissed at drivers for any little slip up are ridiculous. Like not noticing a runner on the sidewalk coming against traffic on a one-way street as they turn on...you know the driver is going to pay most attention to on-coming traffic so don't hop in front of them!

They're driving something weighing in a multiple tons (most often). We're skinny little things. Protect yourself and do not make any assumptions. If you're going to listen to music, don't make any moves without looking.

might I add some runners and cyclist think they are doing good when they stay glued to the shoulder but abrubtly sway into traffic for parked cars, pothones etc rather than taking a graduall more 'predicatable' line that traffic behind can re-act to and avoid.

Question mark wrote:

Patience? Clearly, there is a problem with inattentive drivers in the digital age. Just thought of another - device - if the person's cellphone or digital device is on in the vehicle. Then - by default.

1. The cellphone/digital device providers need to cover their ass by enabling a black box feature in the digital device that is accessible by law enforcement.

2. Auto-Insurance providers require the digital device (cellphone, blackberry, whatever that distracts the driver)when THEY ARE ON IN THE AUTO, the driver to be liable!

End of story.

Give it up man. You have an agenda that has nothing to do with this thread. There are plenty of laws on the books already to deal with manslaughter, carelessness, recklessness, etc.

Question mark is right. Too many drivers get away with their bullshit inattentiveness then blame the runners/pedestrians/cyclists. Can you imagine that Kevin a driver running up to the cop "Oh, heavens to mercatroid the runner ran against the light and I didn't see him" , please, Kevin52 you'll get into an accident very soon, very soon you're not going to know when it happens but Kevin52 you eat your words! Now whatcha going to do when she says goodbye!

What the hell are you even talking about?

Agree.

Very tragic, RIP and condolences to his family.

I was hit hard once at the end of a run by a car that ran a redlight. Police almost gave me a ticket because the driver made up a story and he didn't talk to me as they had me strapped to a board and heading off on an ambulance.

But as a careful driver, I too have had some close calls with peds and bike riders. So by the grace of God...

Let's be careful out there.