I hate to be the bearer of grim and tragic news, but tragedy did strike a family visiting Cozumel for the day on Tuesday. Hopefully this story will prevent at least a handful of you from even considering renting a moped during your visit to Cozumel. This story just illustrates what can and does happen all the time here in Cozumel.
I heard about this yesterday, and then read it on another Cozumel related board (Cozumel My Cozumel) today. Please rent four wheels and not two if you must rent transportation.
As reported by por Esto and translated by Carey Sutton:
This is a cautionary tale reported in yesterday's Por Esto by Rafael Acevedo Alvar. Sorry to be so grim but those of us who live here full-time see so many bad accidents with mopeds and feel it is our duty to remind some visitors that they are not on the bumper cars at the state fair when they hop on a moped here.
*****
A foreign tourist , Susan Pruss, 49, a cruise passenger from Appleton, Wisconsin driving a rented moped was run over by a dump truck yesterday. She was run over by the rear left tire provoking instantaneous death.
Imprudence and lack of precaution in driving coupled with having no experience driving a moped have caused many tourists to have accidents--some like this one--with particularly lamentable consequences.
On this occasion, the accident occurred a few meters from the Reef Club where the deceased was taking part in a group moped tour to the southern end of the island. Pross was attempting to pass the dump truck when the rear left wheel hit her, passing over her abdomen.
Upon seeing this, the driver of the heavy truck advanced some meters, stopped, jumped out and took flight.
At approximately 4 PM on Tuesday, police arrived at the scene the scene, reports were filed with the criminal court and the body, which was almost completely destroyed from the waist down was removed.
*****
A car is a better choice but if you must rent a moped, remember #1. The wheelbase is a lot different than on a US motorcycle #2. Be ESPECIALLY careful! This is a great island. But it's also not Disneyland. Use common sense!
Carey on Cozumel
I heard about this yesterday, and then read it on another Cozumel related board (Cozumel My Cozumel) today. Please rent four wheels and not two if you must rent transportation.
As reported by por Esto and translated by Carey Sutton:
This is a cautionary tale reported in yesterday's Por Esto by Rafael Acevedo Alvar. Sorry to be so grim but those of us who live here full-time see so many bad accidents with mopeds and feel it is our duty to remind some visitors that they are not on the bumper cars at the state fair when they hop on a moped here.
*****
A foreign tourist , Susan Pruss, 49, a cruise passenger from Appleton, Wisconsin driving a rented moped was run over by a dump truck yesterday. She was run over by the rear left tire provoking instantaneous death.
Imprudence and lack of precaution in driving coupled with having no experience driving a moped have caused many tourists to have accidents--some like this one--with particularly lamentable consequences.
On this occasion, the accident occurred a few meters from the Reef Club where the deceased was taking part in a group moped tour to the southern end of the island. Pross was attempting to pass the dump truck when the rear left wheel hit her, passing over her abdomen.
Upon seeing this, the driver of the heavy truck advanced some meters, stopped, jumped out and took flight.
At approximately 4 PM on Tuesday, police arrived at the scene the scene, reports were filed with the criminal court and the body, which was almost completely destroyed from the waist down was removed.
*****
A car is a better choice but if you must rent a moped, remember #1. The wheelbase is a lot different than on a US motorcycle #2. Be ESPECIALLY careful! This is a great island. But it's also not Disneyland. Use common sense!
Carey on Cozumel
