Winter storm watch issued for Linn, surrounding counties
Corbett asks Cedar Rapids residents to ‘fall in love’ with city
Woman backs into Cedar Rapids police department’s red Jeep
Corbett announcing new naming rights deal with U.S. Cellular Center for arena, convention center
Subject of Hawk Alert at University of Iowa found in Washington County
Woman hurt in Cedar Rapids bicycle crash dies
A bike lies on the ground on C Street SW, after an accident on Thursday, July 29. (Christopher Pratt/The Gazette)
A bicyclist hurt in a collision with a pickup last week in Cedar Rapids has died, police said.
Susan M. DeSotel, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. She was 51.
DeSotel was southbound on C Street SW around 6:30 p.m. Thursday when an oncoming pickup turned into her path at Wilson Avenue Drive, police said. DeSotel was thrown off her bike, hitting the pickup and then the pavement.
Sgt. Daniel Jabens said DeSotel suffered head trauma even though she was wearing a helmet.
DeSotel, a member of the Hawkeye Bicycle Association, took the route she was taking Thursday often, and grew to love the hill where the accident happened, friends said.
“She was a very avid biker,” said Bill Phillips, a friend of the family. “If she wasn’t working or sleeping, she was on the bike.”
DeSotel had worked at Quintrex Data Systems in Cedar Rapids for 22 years, most recently as a quality assurance specialist. It was there she met one of her closest friends, Kendra Lown, of Walford.
Lown said DeSotel regularly took an evening bike ride south to Solon or north to Center Point.
“It depended on which way the wind was blowing,” Lown said. “You’ve got to have that tailwind on the way back.”
The driver of the pickup, Robert H. Fleming, 55, of Alburnett, was not injured, police said.
Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said Fleming may be issued a traffic ticket, but would not be charged with a serious crime.
Another bicyclist was seriously hurt Monday morning in Cedar Rapids, authorities said. Phil Abodeely, 60, suffered life-threatening injuries when he crashed on 30th Street SE.
Two motorists discovered Abodeely bleeding after he apparently struck his head on the pavement. Richard Varnum, a neighbor who called 911, said it appeared Abodeely had been lying there for at least 10 minutes.
Attempts to confirm his medical condition Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Experienced bicyclists said the serious accidents are highlighted, but close calls happen regularly. Larry Howe, of Cedar Rapids, said many motorists don’t leave enough room when they pass bicycles. He recommends at least 3 to 5 feet.
“On every long ride, there will be somebody who passes too close,” Howe said. “Not where they meant to buzz you, but where I felt encroached upon.”
Howe said bicyclists and motorists share the responsibility to use the road safely. He has a blinking light on his bike and wears a helmet, bright clothing and a rear-view mirror to stay safe.
“It’s important for drivers of any vehicle to be fully focused on driving their vehicle and to not be distracted,” Howe said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
4 Trackbacks
Woman hurt in Cedar Rapids bicycle crash dies | home equity debt consolidation loan
on August 3, 2010Woman hurt in Cedar Rapids bicycle crash dies
on August 4, 2010Woman hurt in Cedar Rapids bicycle crash dies | loan home equity
on August 5, 2010Lastest Bicycle Clothing News |
on August 5, 2010
Sincerest condolences to the friends, family, and loved ones of Susan.
Very sad……
This driver's negligence caused a tragedy. Whether his driving was impaired by alcohol, drugs, cell phoning, or simply inattention, the cyclist deserved better. And so do all of the users of roads and highways who are daily at the mercy of impaired drivers. It is hard to understand why police have not cited this driver after 5 days. Her family should contact bicyclelaw.com or another personal injury attorney who understands bicycling and the responsibilities of drivers.
This is a very touchy topic – I understand the driver's side of things, because it was most likely an accident (yes, he should have been paying more attention, but we're all guilty of driving while inattentive at one point or another in our lives). On the other hand, the victim's family deserves some sort of retribution, as it sounds like DeSotel was following all of the rules and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It'd be so much easier if the driver had been drunk or something like that, but since it does not appear that way, it is very difficult to say either way what should be done. My condolences to DeSotel's family.
Charges wouldn't be filed until they had time to determine if outside vices played into the accident and they would also wait to see what the outcome of the cyclist would be. Now that she has unfortunately died from her injuries, they will probably make a determination on the charges. The family could always sue him in a civil case if they feel it's warranted.
Really you kill a person with your car and you might get a ticket.
thats really harsh, you have no idea what the driver of the vehicle is going through!! I highly doubt you are a perfect individual and I could only imagine the way you would feel if you were in the same circumstances. Accidents happen.
You only "might" get a ticket if the victim was riding a bicycle.
If she had been a cop, the full wrath and fury of the CR police dept would have fallen on the driver.
Ticket aside, I hope her family ends up owning that dude in a civil suit.
The usual BS excuses of I lost them in the sun, don't apply here, wrong angle.
really? Were you there? Did you see that the sun wasnt in his eyes? I can tell by your "BS" comments that you are highly uneducated. I can guarantee you are nowhere near perfect yourself…
Negligence and intent are hard to prove in criminal court. Clearly he was at fault but possibly not criminally so. The reality is a traffic ticket is probably all that can be done. As stated already, there do not seem to be any provable impairments that contributed to this tragedy. A miscalculation of her speed or a minor distraction would be all it would take. A single focal point like a bicycle or a motorcycle is hard to judge for distance and speed. Easier with two points like car headlights and most people just get it wrong. The remedy for the family will come in civil court. I am an avid cyclist and also a car driver and can project myself on both sides of this. The only possible positive to come from this is thru increased awareness of the need to focus on your driving and riding.
I am also a avid biker,a co-worker, and a friend of Susan's. I was on Ragbrai when I got the news, every mile I rode all I could think of is what she must of been thinking when she saw the car coming her way. She was a very good and safe rider. I ride some busy road's and I do feel drivers need to give us a little room. It's not like we are riding in the middle of the road, we are just out doing what we love. To you Susan and her family I will never forget the times we've had and every time I get on my bike I will think of you.
I've tried riding my bike in Cedar Rapids a few times but it just isn't very managable. This is one of the most unfriendliest bike cities around. Try going to the Lindale Mall, they HAVE a bike rack, yet you have to ride on Collins road or 1st Ave to get there which have no sidewalks to ride one, and stop lights every 20 ft. Sorry Mr Semi and Mrs SUV but my bike can't speed up that fast when I have to stop constantly.
It's a joke this city tried to register as bike-friendly.
Accidents happen. Bikers have just as much of a responsibility if they're on the roads as do vehicles.
It's a terrible accident but if that's what it truly was the driver deserves nothing more than a ticket and no one deserves any retribution.
He'll get his retribution when he is roasting in the pits.
to the comment above: I am sure you are just a PERFECT individual, I only hope that if something severe like that would happen to you that people say the same about you, that is harsh!!
I too have known Susan for 18 years. As hard as we try to be safe with the correct equipment and following as much safety as we can while riding with or without traffic around, accidents happen. It is hard to judge what happened as no one was there but the two people involved. Sadly, we lost a good friend, wonderful mother and grandmother to early in life. I pray that God will look over all her family and prayers go to the gentleman who will be in pain with this accident for the rest of his life.
So very sad. My heart goes out to her family.
This is such a sad story……not only for Susan's family and friends, but I can only imagine what the driver feels like. I wasn't there so I don't know exactly what happened, but It doesn't sound like the driver did anything on purpose……accidents DO happen. Prayers to both families.
My heart goes out to Susan and her family. It was a horrible accident. My heart also goes out to the driver of the vehicle, who happens to be my uncle. If all of you only KNEW the trauma and suffering he is going through himself right now. It was simply an accident, the sun was in his eyes, and did not see a little bike pedaling through. He had barely pulled out into the intersection when her bike ran into him. The images that are still in his head I can assure you are horrifying, and this is something he has to live with the rest of his life. He has called down to get information on her and how she was doing everyday since the accident. Our family is really worried about him and the trauma this has caused him as well. He was not under ANY influence! What happened was no one's intentional fault, accidents happen. Prayers go out to Susan's family and friends for dealing with their poor loss, and also to my uncle who now has to have this on his shoulders, and all the horrible people and horrible comments he will now face from here on out.
I have nearly been hit before by someone who afterwards told me that she hadn't seen me because the sun was in her eyes. My response was that if you can't see where you're going, you should probably not be driving.
Thank you bjsmith, that's what sunglasses are for.
Farben psychologische Bedeutung gelb | designer lernen | internet schneller
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon
This is definitely one of the best articles I have ever seen.I will come back to to read more.Thanks for the info.Keep well.
This is definitely one of the most informative articles I have ever come across.I will come back to to read more.Thanks for the info.Keep well.
This is by far one of the most well written articles I have ever read.I will come back to to read more.Thanks for the info.Keep well.
This is a really informative post. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Its great to keep track of everything and this tool is indeed useful. Thanks for sharing.
Hi, I like your publish. I desire everyone would pay such attention to their article as you do. I came acros your website on yahoo when looking for a compartment. I will arrive again to your blog. I am sorry for my poor englisch, i am from the netherlands. Best regards from the netherlands!
Tarmac14 you said it all! Why could he not get life in prison since he knew Iowa law required insurance, which he knew he did not have!! He also turned right in front of the bike and knocked her to the ground. Surely he heard days later that she did not make it. Does he not have a concious?
I couldn’t imagine what both families are dealing with right now. How about everyone be thankful for the things you have instead of waste your time posting hurtful things. Have some respect! No one knows exactly what happened.