Cyclist Struck Across Head With A Drum By 'Racist A**hole' Driver Launches Crowdfunding Campaign For Medical Costs

By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 10, 2017 8:59PM

Screenshot / Facebook

A cyclist who was violently smacked over the head with a drum by a driver after a traffic altercation has launched a GoFundMe campaign to pay for new braces.

A viral video posted to Facebook captured a portion of the incident. In the clip, which has now been viewed some 14 million times, the cyclist is seen smashing the back window of a van with a U-lock after he and the driver argue behind the vehicle. Moments later, the driver opens the hatchback of his van, retrieves a drum, runs up to the cyclist at his bike and smacks him over the head, sending the man hard to the pavement.

But the cyclist, Trajan Vivens, 23, insists there's more to the story than just what's seen in the video. Vivens told DNAinfo that he was clipped by the driver on Sunday evening as he biked from Presence St. Mary's Hospital (2233 W. Division St.), and that the driver swore at him and hurled a racial slur when Vivens told him. Vivens then became enraged, he said, and the confrontation continued to escalate.

Vivens also told DNAinfo that his jaw was broken and his lip was split open. He wrote in the crowdfunding campaign that his insurance didn't cover all of his injuries and he is still in need of $4,000 for braces and additional surgery. As of early afternoon, Vivens had raised $475 of his goal.

He wrote:

"Due to a racist asshole smacking me upside the head with a drum. I am now in need of braces. My insurance does not cover all of and I only need 4,000 to cover the rest of the surgery.
Help me get my face back please."

You can check out the campaign below. (Note that the image of Vivens' injury on the page is graphic, and the comments section is, well, a comments section.)

[H/T DNAinfo]