Bicyclist Killed In Road Rage Incident

What is it about being in an automobile that makes otherwise civil, reasonable people completely lose their minds if someone, say, cuts them off?

Sure, it's annoying when other motorists tailgate, drive too slow in the left lane, fail to signal, etc. But driving is the single most dangerous activity we do on a day-to-day basis, so it pays to keep cool and channel that anger in non-destructive ways.

Senseless, primal road rage allegedly was the culprit of 32-year-old bicyclist Jepson Livingston's death (Tribune) in Logan Square.

Livingston was on his way to fill out job applications when he came upon two vans, one ramming the other repeatedly. As they got closer to the bicyclist, one of them swerved off the road and into the fence of a nearby business. The driver of the other van also lost control and spun right into Livingston, "sending him flying as high as the utility lines."

He died of serious injuries about 30 minutes later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Police detained one man believed to be the driver of the van that killed Livingston, 21-year-old Tyrice Pryor, and are holding him on $2 million bond. He most likely has retained the services of a Chicago criminal defense attorney by now.

Livingston had dreamed of becoming a professional chef, according to his family members who say he had overcome drug problems and was in the process of turning his life around. He was looking for work and wanted to return to culinary school.

If convicted, Pryor could face vehicular manslaughter charges in addition to reckless driving and other, lesser charges. The driver of the other vehicle has not been detained.

Road rage is a serious, completely avoidable problem on today's roads and highways. Chicago earned the dubious honor of being ranked the 7th worst city for road rage (AP, via CBS Chicago) in 2007, based on a nationwide survey of more than 2,500 drivers who commute in 25 metropolitan areas.

So next time you feel your blood boiling and have the urge to act from the reptilian portion of your brain, take a deep breath and think about the tragic death of Jepson Livingston.