Cyclist in DC hit by two cars, killed

There aren't many details out yet. Here's what is known. The cyclist, David Haywood Williams, 42, was traveling southwest on Southern Avenue in the 1400 block (near the Southern Avenue Metro) when he was struck by a 2004 Chevy Suburban at around 10:45pm Friday night. Before bystanders could render assistance, he was hit by a second car. An eyewitness flagged down an ambulance and the cyclists was taken to Prince George's Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead at 11:38 p.m.

The driver of the Suburban told Metro Police that he didn’t realize that he hit anyone at first.  He later returned to the scene.

The second car, a dark blue compact with three passengers, drove away when paramedics arrived.  Police are looking for that car, believed to by a Toyota or a Nissan.

Asked whether the victim could have been alive after the first impact, Frost said, “We don't know. … They can't say whether the second car definitively caused death or not.” Frost described the location as a “dark area, and at that time it's not heavily traveled." He said the length of time between the two cars striking the victim was not known.

No word on whether the cyclist was wearing lights. I've ridden this road during WAGBRAD a few times, and it is not exactly bike friendly. Drivers drive way too fast (which I am not saying is the case here. I don't know if speed was a factor).

Comments

[SJE]

My prayers for his family.

At least the reporting was good. It was described as a "homocide" along with a shooting in SE. They did not ask whether he was wearing a helmet, or blamed him for being their, or get into irrelevant discussions about how naughty bikers are.

There seems to be more bike injury/crash stats right now: is this true? Is it just a normal summer increase in biking?

[washcycle]

There has been a little burst lately, but 3 deaths in two months is not that unheard of. We had four, for example, between 9/24 and 11/26 in 2008. And two of the three recent ones are really "pedestrian with bike" crashes more than a cyclist fatality.

But there has been one fatality between May 8-June 1 in each of the last 4 years.

[SJE]

Thanks for the information. Still, a bummer.

[dp]

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/install-speedbumps-bicycle-lane-w-reflector-boarders