Accident at festival spurs bike race policy review

YARMOUTH – Officials plan to review the policy for closing roads during the annual Yarmouth Clam Festival bicycling race after an elderly driver veered into a fast-moving group of cyclists, seriously injuring two and causing a pileup of competitors.

Police said they are not seeking criminal charges for now against 88-year-old John Christiansen of Yarmouth, who drove into a pack of oncoming cyclists on Route 88 on Sunday morning.

The cyclists were competing in the 25th annual Yarmouth Clam Festival Bike Race, which draws a handful of professionals and some of the top amateur cyclists in New England.

Paul Weiss, president of the Portland Velo Club and a longtime organizer of the 36-mile race, said the stretch of Route 88 where the accident occurred should be closed to traffic for future races. Ideally, he would like all roads in the 3.6-mile loop to be shut down for race morning, but says that request is unrealistic.

“I always would have preferred to close the course, but you get a zillion upset drivers, and they always win out over a bike race,” Weiss said. “I’m thinking for next year, that uphill needs to be closed off for an hour and a half.

“It’s hard because it’s [Route 88] and all that traffic,” Weiss said. “Where do you send them?”

There will be a meeting this week for race organizers, and probably representatives from the U.S. Cycling Federation, the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce and the Yarmouth Police Department. The race is sanctioned by the USCF, which certifies that the course is safe and provides secondary insurance for riders.

The accident happened around 10 a.m. when the first cyclists in a pack of about 80 crested a hill and accelerated to nearly 40 mph. Cars traveling north on Route 88 pulled onto the shoulder, giving cyclists an open lane as two leaders passed safely.

But Christiansen then pulled around those cars into the oncoming group of racers, apparently misunderstanding earlier instructions from officials directing traffic. A few riders collided with the car, while another 15 or 20 crashed into one another and fell, Weiss said.

“There was some type of confusion,” said Yarmouth Patrolman Kevin Pedersen. “At this point we’re not seeking criminal charges.”