Video: Pedicabs not inspected for safety

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SEATTLE - A 60-year-old Connecticut man died Wednesday night when his pedicab careened into traffic in Belltown.

The city says this is the first time someone in Seattle has died while riding in a pedicab. Officials are looking into whether it's necessary to regulate them.

"Right now we don't know if we have a problem to solve or if this is just an isolated incident," said Alex Fryer, city spokesperson.

Pedicabs are not tested for safety or inspected in Seattle.

Douglas Benedetti owns two pedicabs with hand brakes. He says months ago he noticed problems with pedicabs that use foot brakes.

"Those bikes should not be out on the streets of Seattle providing public transportation; they're toys," he said.

Wednesday's collision happened at the corner of Western and Cedar. The victim, Peter Dzioba Joba, was in Seattle for a cruise with his wife. He thought it would be fun to take a ride around Seattle in the pedicab.

The driver was cruising downhill along Western in a Cascadia pedicab, when police say the driver could not stop. The pedicab slammed into traffic.

The impact threw the two passengers under a van, killing the man and putting his wife in the hospital.

Unlike cabs or horse-drawn carriages, pedicabs don't undergo inspections. In Seattle, all an owner needs is a business license. The driver can use it anywhere in the city.

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Man dies in pedicab crash

"Very few cities have any kind of regulations for these types of businesses," Fryer said.

The owner of Cascadia issued this statement: "Our heart goes out to all those impacted by this incident. We are interested in getting to the bottom of the situation as anyone. We are currently conducting a full investigation. We are cooperating with all appropriate local authorities."

He also says his company is conducting an investigation into whether the brakes were a factor in this accident.