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[lionfish-eater]

I came across this in todays Por Esto cozumel section. It is not scuba related, but I am curious about how the taxi driver changed the accident scene to look innocent. It says he was arrested, but I don't know if that is just standard procedure for accidents, or if he was arrested for being guilty of something. Sad story. If you can understand the original spanish it might be clearer than the translation. Thanks

COZUMEL, April 10. - An alien who trained aboard his bicycle collided with a taxi driver was on the coastal road south. The cyclist was rushed to a hospital for medical care, but died moments later.The survey indicates that the alien Traffic was at fault, although the version of witnesses said otherwise.
The expertise of the Traffic Branch reported that the accident occurred at 11:40 am on Tuesday, the at kilometer 14.5 on the south coast road, opposite the beach club called "Ocean Bar & Grill", located 500 meters north of San Francisco beach club.
's report made ​​in this instance municipal, states that "the U.S. Val Robichaux, Scott drove the bike brand type black colored mountain in the direction from north to south along the perimeter road, their lack of caution to drive to enter the west side road (old highway), invaded this be causing lane collided in the front left side with the front right of car Volkswagen Jetta white type, belonging to the Union of Taxi Drivers 'Adolfo Lopez Mateos' economic numbered 73, with plates 38-46-TBP/Q.Roo, led on the old road from south to north by Gabriel Diaz Jocias 28 years of age. "
The report indicates that the rider fell to the pavement where he was treated by paramedics Islamed private clinic, he was transferred to CMC hospital by gravity showed a fracture of tibia and fibula in his left leg and left arm broken.
Unfortunately about two hours after being admitted, died at the hospital for their injuries, which according to one of the doctors, could be Closed Head Fracture.
A version of witnesses at the scene, filmed even when U.S. attention to the claim that the now deceased was training with a partner who was not hurt, both dressed in sports clothes appropriate for this activity and the driver had been circulating on the old road in the direction from south to north, and tried to win him over to the oncoming rider to it, all, to enter the car to the beach club "Ocean Bar & Grill" that to his left, causing the collision.
also claim that the place came several taxi drivers, who suggested to Jocias Gabriel Diaz, move your unit a few meters, which they say, he did, thus altering the crime scene.
The vehicles involved were referred to the corral, the driver was arrested and turned over to Attorney General to resolve their legal status, while damages were valued at 45 thousand dollars.
Transit authorities do not have at the moment more general data of the deceased, no know if he was visiting or resided on the island, do not mention anything about his companion.

 

[Mossman]

I came across this in todays Por Esto cozumel section. It is not scuba related, but I am curious about how the taxi driver changed the accident scene to look innocent. It says he was arrested, but I don't know if that is just standard procedure for accidents, or if he was arrested for being guilty of something. Sad story. If you can understand the original spanish it might be clearer than the translation. Thanks

Transit authorities do not have at the moment more general data of the deceased, no know if he was visiting or resided on the island, do not mention anything about his companion.

I don't think the original Spanish helped any. As for more general data of the deceased, he's Dr. Val Robichaux from Cortez, CO, and can be seen with his bicycle on his Facebook page. Creepy. Doesn't mention if he was a diver or not.

If scooters are dangerous in Cozumel, bicycles have got to be even worse. Why can't people just stick to safe activities like deep wall drift diving?

 

[Christi]

It was a very tragic accident. Dr. Robichaux was here with his family training for the 1/2 Ironman. A speeding taxi who was apparently not paying attention hit him and killed him. An event is being organizing by our local Triathlon team and cycling team to raise awareness to drivers, especially for the taxis. I am also training for the 1/2 IM and have had more close calls from taxis (or scooters) passing too close. Cyclists have the same legal right on the road as a car or moto, but also have the right of way - regardless of where you are, please respect cyclists and pass them at a distance NO CLOSER than 1.5meters (4 - 5 feet). There is absolutely NO reason to pass them without giving ample space!

 

[RexRobichaux]

It was a very tragic accident. Dr. Robichaux was here with his family training for the 1/2 Ironman. A speeding taxi who was apparently not paying attention hit him and killed him. An event is being organizing by our local Triathlon team and cycling team to raise awareness to drivers, especially for the taxis. I am also training for the 1/2 IM and have had more close calls from taxis (or scooters) passing too close. Cyclists have the same legal right on the road as a car or moto, but also have the right of way - regardless of where you are, please respect cyclists and pass them at a distance NO CLOSER than 1.5meters (4 - 5 feet). There is absolutely NO reason to pass them without giving ample space!

Good Evening Everyone

In what very little free time I have had in the last few days, I have came across a few similar threads, and as the proud son of Val Robichaux, and (as far as I know at this time) the only truly "uninvolved" witness to the entire accident- I feel I am obligated to get the facts to the public in anyway I can. We are currently in a heated legal battle against the local "forces that be" to clear my father's name (all we have ever wanted) and regardless of the outcome- the world deserves to know what happened in those few moments around the accident that took the life of one of the best men the world has seen. I apologize in advance if this is wordy- but every word is worth reading for my father's memory.

First and foremost a little on Val Ian Robichaux- the man I have had the privilege of calling dad for the past 26 years. Although he was born in Tempe, AZ- he has lived the last 35+ years in Colorado. Up until his death he lived in Cortez Colorado where he had been enjoying retirement for the past 10 years. Val was not an Ironman- nor was he training for the ironman…although he had the UTMOST respect for triathletes and ironmen athletes. He always joked about his swimming abilities and how that kept him away from Tris. That being said- you would be hard pressed to find a more avid cyclist than Val. This year alone his odometer on his Trek Madone had clocked well over 3,000 miles. He WAS training to finish the Iron Horse Classic Bike Race in Durango, CO in the end of May- one of many feats we planned to complete together. As far as personality goes- well I can't even express in words- I will simply leave it at that. Val and my mother came to Cozumel to suprise my girlfriend and I on Saturday knowing that I would be proposing to my girlfriend on Monday night here. He wanted to be here to help celebrate, and was nearly equally excited when I told him that we could rent bikes for a couple of days and loop the island. Luckily he was able to see his son get engaged the night before the last day of his life.

On the day of his death we departed our hotel north of town around 9:30, and enjoyed a refreshing shower through San Miguel- we headed south out of town just moving right along with the tail wind that we joked would make our life a living hell when we hit the other side of the island. We had decided that when the opportunity allowed- we would jump on the "old highway" as it was slower and lower traffic amounts. At the first opportunity I did so- but my dad missed the turnoff- I (on the old highway) yelled over to my dad and he said "I'll meet you on up ahead" signaling forward towards the upcoming crossover- the entrance to the Ocean Beach Club / Resort. As he slowed and started to turn in / over towards the old highway to meet up with me I noticed a taxi FLYING towards me / us. I signaled with my left hand for my dad to stop and yelled over my left shoulder "DAD! CAR!". I remember thinking "Please GOD let my dad have stopped in time", but as I turned and looked over my right shoulder I witnessed taxi #73 plow into my father at 60+ km/h disintegrating his stout Scott mtb, and sending him torso first into the windshield, then 3+ ft over the vehicle. My heart stopped. The taxi coasted to a stop ~150m down the road as I sprinted over to my father screaming. He was motionless in an already large pool of blood. I noticed an ambulance just 100m further down the road and screamed for their assistance. To my amazement my father was breathing with extreme labor but unconscious with obvious lacerations, fractures, bruises and other injuries. Some concerned by standing tourists came to our aid as did some Ocean club employees as the medical staff braced and loaded my father who was still unconscious. The driver never came over and within minutes there were 3-4 other cabs down in the area surrounding the lethal car.

The 15 minute drive to CMC was the longest 15 minutes in my life as I heard my father fighting for his life in the back of the ambulance but was powerless to do a thing. We arrived, I offered what information I could and was asked to wait in the lobby as I watched the doctors try their hardest to keep my father alive- an effort they eventually could not succeed with as he passed away from cardiac arrest caused by complete torso trauma / lung collapse approx 30 minutes later. We later found out that he had multiple shattered bones, head injuries, extreme bleeding, shattered rib cage, collar bone, collapsed lungs, and several other injuries which simply are not possibly caused by a car traveling at 30 km / h (the posted speed limit). It was an absolute miracle he survived the initial impact- a testament to his health and strength. The medical examiner later told us one of the causes of death was due to his age and fragile condition. I nearly lost it on him.

At this time I cannot release too much legal information- but what I can tell you is that the cries for justice from my mother, fiance, and myself have fallen on largely deaf legal ears here in Cozumel. We have hired attorneys and a legal team from Cancun who will continue to fight to clear my father's name after we leave the island tomorrow. The corruption here is unreal- as is the power of the taxi unions in this country. I truly pity everyone involved.

The FACTS: My father had NO yield, stop, or otherwise regulatory traffic sign. My father reached and yielded at the intersection long before the taxi arrived. The Taxi was traveling at OVER DOUBLE the posted speed limit. THE TAXI HAD A STOP SIGN 50 METERS before he killed my father which he blatantly ran. According to the current "expert" opinion which was generated by the local DA's office my father was at fault because he ran a stop sign and failed to yield to oncoming traffic. The report makes NO mention of the vehicle speed (because there was no skid marks because the taxi ran right through my father, and slowly came to a stop afterwords), nor the FACT that the taxi had just ran a stop sign a high velocity. The press is in our hotel so if anyone would like to know more- I will gladly post more later. Thank you all for your support and I hope this clears up any doubt of my father's unnecessary and innocent death which you will likely continue to hear from local "authorities". It is my hope that my father's case brings a heightened level of awareness to people around here to both watch out for athletes, as well as to the deep corruption that goes on largely unquestioned here and in so many other places in the world. He would light up with an illuminating glow if he knew an athletic event would be dedicated to his memory. You have no idea how much that means. God bless you all and watch over you.

- Rex M. Robichaux

 

[RexRobichaux]

I don't think the original Spanish helped any. As for more general data of the deceased, he's Dr. Val Robichaux from Cortez, CO, and can be seen with his bicycle on his Facebook page. Creepy. Doesn't mention if he was a diver or not.

If scooters are dangerous in Cozumel, bicycles have got to be even worse. Why can't people just stick to safe activities like deep wall drift diving?

Mossman- I apologize if you got creeped out when facebook-creeping my father. Maybe these will help:

 

[cvchief]

My condolences to you and your family Rex.

 

[Mossman]

Mossman- I apologize if you got creeped out when facebook-creeping my father. Maybe these will help:

I certainly didn't mean to imply that anything about your father or his facebook page was creepy, just in the context of looking at the facebook page of someone so recently departed that there was no mention of it online. Facebook pages go on living and it was "creepy" (maybe "eerie" is a better word) to see one page that outlasted its creator. Nor was I "facebook-creeping"; I just took a quick peek to see if your father was a diver since this is a board of divers.

I am very sorry for your tragic loss, especially at a time that should have been one of your and your fiancee's happiest memories.

 

[lionfish-eater]

Very sorry for your loss. May your father rest in peace and may you and your family live in peace.

Your Dad's name is "clear" with all of us.