A US man who was fighting for his life and in a coma awoke to find out that he had been fined for the incident that landed him in the hospital.
In a shocking turn of events, an American tourist Rod Maroney was issued a fine while in a coma following a near-fatal collision with an e-bike in Sydney, Australia.
As reported by News.com.au, the incident occurred back in September 2023, leaving the retired aerospace engineer with severe brain injuries. Maroney was crossing the light rail tracks - an area where e-bikes are prohibited - when he was struck by the e-bike, propelling him into the air.
As Maroney fought for his life and underwent emergency brain surgery at St. Vincent's Hospital, his wife, Barbara Maroney, received an $86 fine at their Airbnb accommodation. The penalty was for the offense of "moving into the rider's path" - despite the fact that e-bike riding on light rail tracks is strictly prohibited in the area.
Barbara, a semi-retired lawyer herself, was astonished by the insensitivity of the situation. She shared her disbelief, telling 9News: "Serving me while my husband is in the hospital in a coma was outrageous. In the US, that would not be good service of process because my husband never lived at the Airbnb."
Barbara, determined to contest the fine, sought legal assistance, resulting in the withdrawal of the penalty. Authorities confirmed that riding in the mentioned part of George Street is banned, with Transport for NSW emphasizing that "E-bikes and bicycles are not allowed to be ridden on the footpath on George Street in front of the Queen Victoria Building and are prohibited in the Light Rail corridor."
The Maroneys, who were at the beginning of their dream vacation, described the incident as devastating. The collision occurred just outside the QVB light rail stop on George Street as they were crossing the road after dinner. George Street is typically traffic-free except for the light rail, leaving them unprepared for the "very fast" e-bike approaching them.
Barbara recalled shouting to warn her husband but to no avail. She vividly remembers the moment of impact, saying: "I will never forget seeing the collision, and seeing Rod flying through the air."
Following his seven-week hospital stay, Rod returned to the US with the assistance of two nurses. Although travel insurance covered most of the medical costs, he was left with a large bulge on the side of his head, memory loss, vision impairment, and an inability to drive.
Doctors remain uncertain about the extent of his future recovery.
The Maroneys now call for action against e-bikes in Sydney, urging authorities to regulate them more effectively. Barbara voiced her concerns, asking: "Why is Sydney's council allowing silent, deadly bikes? Given the speed of the bike, Rod could have been killed. Why are e-bikes not regulated like vehicles?"
While NSW Health does not have specific figures for e-bike-related injuries, Victoria has reported a significant increase in such incidents.
According to the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit, Victoria has witnessed a 454% surge in e-bike-related injuries since 2019, with a 64% increase in the past year alone. Transport for NSW emphasizes that e-bike riders must adhere to the same road rules as standard bicycles.
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