GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - A 55-year-old man is dead after a bicycle accident on the city's northwest side.
The bicyclist was hit by a city dump truck Wednesday afternoon. People rushed to his side as he lay in the street. Witnesses say they didn't hear the impact; they only heard the backup sound of the dump truck. The city worker reversed the truck once he saw the man's bike and body in his rear view mirror.
"At this point it would appear that he did get dragged for a distance," says Sergeant Steve LaBrecque of the Grand Rapids Police Department.
Witnesses say the cyclist cut through the parking lot of a bar, turning West on Bridge Street. At the same time, the truck also turned in the same direction from the driveway across the street and the two collided.
"He was breathing quite heavily so I just bent down and told him that Jesus was with him and that he's got people praying for him and help is on the way and he's not alone," says witness Linda Otherlyn.
"The ambulance came and they did CPR too and there was no bringing him back," says witness Janet Lloyd.
Later in the day, hundreds kept him in their thoughts during the annual Ride of Silence. At Riverside Park, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell skipped his proclamation, dedicating the ride to the cyclist who died instead.
The Ride of Silence is a world wide event promoting safety and driver awareness. Bagpipers played along the route, honoring everyone killed in bicycle accidents. Ant though another life is tragically gone, there's hope an important message is not lost.
Says Otherlyn, "If any good can come of this, hug your families and wear your helmets if you ride a bike."
In your voice
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