Injured by a car while racing
Joe Anderson was passing another triathlete during the bike segment of the Waldo County YMCA triathlon in Belfast, Maine when according to the Bangor Daily News a car pulled out of a driveway and caused a collision with the athlete as he was coming down a hill in fairly poor visibility rainy conditions. But it was not all just bad news.
Roberto Lopez-Anido was the triathlete he had just passed and he was in contention for an age group win, but stopped and made sure that Anderson was ok, humored him with some clever comments and directed traffic to ensure no more carnage would occur.
"He complimented me on my aeronautical abilities, then stopped and helped move traffic out of the way, so people wouldn’t drive into me," said Anderson to the Bangor Daily News. "He was apparently a real hero. He held up his bike to get the drivers’ attention, so they wouldn’t run over me. He could have saved my life."
When it was all said and done Lopez-Anido finished second in his age group by 30 seconds, but he gained the respect and admiration of many folks.
Anderson reportedly fractured his elbow and had cuts and bruises, but seemed relatively positive.
"I've done it [Waldo County YMCA Triathlon] every year, and I'd do it again absolutely, in a heartbeat," added Anderson. "People just have to be cautious and look out for bikes on the road."
According to local Officer Wendall Ward of the Belfast Police Department the car driver, who is not a local, won't be charged in this accident.
"Ultimately, he [the driver] failed to yield the right-of-way," Ward said to the Bangor Daily News. "But it was raining real hard. They had no intent. It was one of those things."
Ward had thoughts about Anderson. "This should have been an Ironman contest because he's such a tough guy," added Ward.
