Possible assault? WTF, dooh!
PAPA JOHN'S PIZZA FOUNDER AND NATIONAL CHAMPION CYCLIST INJURED IN
BICYCLE CRASH According to the Associated Press, "the founder of the
Papa John's pizza chain and a national champion (track) cyclist were
injured in a bike crash that police are investigating as a possible
assault." The incident took place outside Louisville on Wednesday,
June 2. John Schnatter, Papa John's chairman and CEO, and Curtis
Tolson, , who is hoping to race in the Olympics, were hospitalized
after the crash Wednesday. The Louisville Courier-Journal reported
today that, "Kevin Marlett, 18, of Louisville, was charged with
second-degree assault and wanton endangerment after giving a statement
to police, Louisville police spokesman Dwight Mitchell said Friday.
Mitchell said Marlett was charged after coming forward. There were
others in the truck, all juveniles. Mitchell said it was still not
clear whether there was any intent to harm the cyclists." Schnatter
told reporters after leaving the hospital that he believes wearing a
helmet saved his life. "I really feel blessed," Schnatter said in a
telephone interview. He said he fractured the pointy tips of two
vertebrae in his back, but is able to sit, stand and move around. "I
took a hell of a lick, but I'm OK," he said. Tolson suffered abrasions
and possibly a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder. They were
riding single-file, along with Tracy Huber, when apparently a book was
thrown from an oncoming pickup truck. Tolson was hit and Schattner
fell over him. Huber avoided the crash and said she saw an object,
which she later learned was a biology textbook, thrown from a pickup
truck. Following the incident, "The Francene Show," a Clear Channel
radio 84WHAS talk show in Louisville, invited two members of thelive
discussion on the coexistence of cyclists and motorists. The cyclists
"spoke about recent incidents of violence and road rage toward
cyclists, attempts to improve cyclist/motorist education and efforts
the city needs to make to keep all parties safer on the roads." The
discussion, planned to last one hour, extended to nearly two because
of the volume of phone calls and emails the show received in response
to the subject and guests.