Another
Chicagoland bicyclist has passed away after being struck by a motor
vehicle. On the afternoon of June 27, 2013, Richard White, a 50 year old
North Aurora resident, was riding his bicycle on Nelson Lake Road near
the Dick Young Forest Preserve in Batavia when his bicycle was struck
from behind by a 2009 Nissan Rogue driven by a 26-year old Evanston resident. According to news reports, a preliminary investigation revealed
that a number of cars traveling in the same direction as Mr. White's
bicycle had appropriately moved over to drive around him, but the driver of the Nissan
failed to do the same and instead struck the rear tire of Mr. White's
bicycle. Upon impact, Mr. White was thrown from his bicycle and fatally
injured.
All motorists have a duty to not only reduce speed to avoid a collision, but also to keep a proper lookout. The fact that other vehicles were able to give Mr. White space demonstrates that any other driver should have been able to do the same. In Illinois, motor vehicles are required to give three feet of space at a minimum when passing a bicyclist.
Paramedics
arrived on the scene and transported Mr. White to Mercy Center Hospital
in Aurora, Illinois where he was pronounced dead. The driver involved
in the crash was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an
accident. According to the Kane County Sheriff's office, the collision
remains under investigation and it is not yet clear whether texting,
drugs, or alcohol may have been contributing factors.
Unfortunately,
Mr. White is the latest victim in a number of fatal bicycle crashes
that have occurred in recent months in the Chicagoland area. With
bicycling season in full swing, the Illinois Bicycle Attorneys of
Keating Law Offices plead with motorists to share the road and drive
with a heightened sense of awareness for bicyclists. Too many lives have
been tragically lost in preventable collisions such as this.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. White's family and friends.
