SPANISH FORT, Ala. — With three Spanish Fort bicyclists recovering from a recent collision with a car only two years after a similar accident claimed the lives of two residents, Spanish Fort Police Chief David Edgar said caution and vigilance on the parts of both cyclists and drivers are the best defense against future tragedies.

“We haven’t had that many (bicycle) accidents that have occurred within the city limits that our department has actually worked, but this is an opportunity for everyone to review safety procedures and protect themselves,” Edgar said.

Last month, bicyclist Craig Ross, 37, was taken by ambulance to Thomas Hospital in Fairhope after being struck by a presumed drunk driver.

Ross and his wife, Angela, had been cycling with Tracey Wall, who was transported via helicopter to University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile following the accident.

Bradford Maples, 28, of Fairhope has been charged with driving under the influence after striking all three cyclists with his car on Baldwin County Road 1 near Mullet Point Park.

“I know they did try to pick an area they felt off the beaten path and frequented by other cyclists, not on busy, heavy traveled roads, but it still wasn’t enough,” said Spanish Fort Middle School Principal Carol Palumbo. Craig Ross is an assistant principal at SFMS, and Wall is a special-education instructor at the local middle school. Both men are recovering.

Palumbo credits the men’s good health and athletic conditioning for preventing more serious injuries.

“The two of them are very active, very athletic and have participated in these kinds of things for years. Both are triathletes, and it’s a good thing they were really fit because we all feel like it  contributed to the injuries not being more severe,” Palumbo said.

In January, Patrick Blake Young Ballard, 20, of Spanish Fort pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter for his involvement in a high-speed crash in 2007 that claimed the lives of Spanish Fort cyclists William Frederick Imle, 48, and Archie Leroy Clemons Jr., 46.

Ballard, who was accused of speeding eastbound on Bromley Road on Sept. 3 of that year and striking the westbound cyclists, was sentenced to two consecutive 20-year terms by Baldwin County Circuit Court Judge Charles C. Partin.

Edgar said although both of these “terrible accidents” involved Spanish Fort residents, it has actually been about 11 years since a cyclist was struck by a vehicle within his jurisdiction. That incident, which was not fatal, involved a cyclist rear-ending a vehicle near Spanish Fort Estates.

Edgar cautioned cyclists to always be aware of their surroundings and never ride without a helmet, but he also urged motorists to be mindful of the cyclists not only sharing the road but pedaling down sidewalks as they back down their driveways.

“You need to be sure you can handle the bike you’re riding and be certain you wear contrasting or reflective clothing, but you also have to be certain you have reflectors that are visible from all four angles, especially when you’re riding at night,” Edgar said.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 500,000 people nationwide are treated in emergency rooms—and more than 700 people die—as a result of bicycle-related injuries. In 2001, almost 60 percent of all bicycle-related injuries involved children 15 years old and younger.

According to the 2002 National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors, an estimated 57 million people, or 27.3 percent of the population older than 15, rode a bicycle at least once during the summer of 2002. The survey was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Bureau of Transportation Statistics in order to gauge pedestrian and bicyclist trips, behaviors and attitudes.