Nasty Wreck Downtown Today

[RiversideGator]

I am not trying to be sensationalist, but I saw the aftermath of a nasty wreck downtown today. It appeared as if a police car had run into the corner of the bldg at the NW corner of Forsyth and Hogan Streets. Also, there was a busted up bicycle on the sidewalk there and what appeared to be blood around it on the sidewalk. I was wondering if anyone knows what happened.

[RiversideGator]

I found the answer in today's paper:

Police officer swerves to avoid car wreck, hits bicyclist instead

The Times-Union

A 70-year-old Jacksonville bicyclist was slightly injured Friday when a police cruiser struck him while trying to avoid having an accident with a car that ran a red light, police said.

Officer Gary P. Vanlooven Jr., 31, was going west on Adams Street and approaching Hogan Street about 11:25 a.m. when a car going north on Hogan Street ran a red light at Adams Street and braked in the intersection in front of the police cruiser, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office report.

Vanlooven swerved to avoid colliding with the vehicle and struck the bicycle. Both the police cruiser and the bicycle hit a nearby building, police said.

Bicyclist George A. Collier of West Ashley Street was treated and later released.

The other driver, Grant C. Hamilton, 24, of East Mikris Drive, was not injured in the accident.

Police said Hamilton was cited for running a red light.

http://www.jacksonville.com/images/020406/115751_400.jpg

Luckily, no one was seriously injured as I had feared.