Brynn Barton, 24, was killed in a hit-and-run bicycle accident near Trolley Square on June 7. Police are still looking for the vehicle that hit her, which is described as an older model, dark-colored Volkswagen. It is a 4-door passenger car, possibly a Passat, that could have some front-end damage on it.
To honor this tragic hit-and-run bicycle accident, hundreds of bicyclists rode in honor of Brynn Barton near Trolley Square last Friday, June 17. This benefit ride was organized by two people unknown to Barton. Although the group was small at first, with the help of social networking and Facebook, over 900 volunteers from the cyclist community attended.
The ride began at 7 p.m., and the bicyclists rode through downtown to gather donations and raise cycling awareness. Originally the donations were meant for Barton’s family, but they decided they wanted the proceeds to go to Choice Humanitarian and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The ride ended around 8:30 p.m. at Liberty Park, where a candlelight vigil was held.
Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident Reminders
As weather continues to improve more cyclists will be sharing the road with vehicles. This means both motorists and cyclists will have to be cautious to avoid a hit-and-run bicycle accident. Bicyclists are expected to obey the same traffic laws as cars. This includes signaling and wearing a helmet and bright clothes. Motorists need to be aware of cyclists’ rights as well. They should provide at least a 3 foot buffer area when passing and absolutely should not be driving distracted or a hit-and-run bicycle accident becomes a possible reality.