Accident on Cutherbertson Road?????

[serotta]

Just got a call from a fellow cyclist. He'd heard there may have been a cycling accident on Cuthbertson Road near Waxhaw yesterday. Anyone have any information?


EDIT: (Several hours later.) I just found out it was a resident of Champion Forest, a neighborhood on Cuthbertson Road. He had just begun cycling again after several years hiatus. 2PM in the afternoon. A woman driver fell asleep, plowed through a brick mailbox, and hit him on his bike. He was pronounced dead shortly later by emergency personnel.

[Bob B]

John,
I had not heard about this. Incredible. I drove by there maybe 15 minutes earlier.

[serotta]

John,
I had not heard about this. Incredible. I drove by there maybe 15 minutes earlier.

Bob,

Evidently he was on his way to meet a ride from the Harris Teeter on 16. The ambulance was called for the car / mailbox accident and found the cyclist a short distance away in the ditch. Tragic, within sight of his neighborhood.

[WheresWaldo]

Serotta, I have posted on my blog. There are conflicting stories as to the cause, I am reluctant to post anything unconfirmed. The story I heard was that she was on her cell phone and crossed the center line while cresting a hill then hit Mr Rau. This came from an EMT at the scene. So before I write more I want to confirm.

Perhaps she hit the cyclist first, then the mailbox?

[serotta]

WW,

You are correct. I should have been reluctant to post the details I did because I cannot confirm what I originally posted. I talked with a neighbor of Brian, the deceased, and they said the driver fell asleep. The cell phone sounds more plausible at 2PM in the afternoon. I shall await the police report.

[WheresWaldo]

Bob,

What appears to be certain, is that she crossed the center line, and hit Brian. What is also certain seems to be the time frame, just before 2:00 pm. The actual sequence of events and the exact cause still is undetermined. Every story I have heard today also says that the driver did not know she had hit Brian (this I find incredible unless the sleep story is true). I cannot even confirm the cell phone either so I did not post any of that on my blog.

Here is the specific entry: Sad day for Union County cyclists (http://blog.hammerton.net/2008/01/28/sad-day-for-union-county-cyclists/trackback/)

I have stickied it to the top of the site, I also have posted it in its entirety on the first page so you don't have to click to read the full story, just to comment.

[VegaVixen]

:(

[Bob B]

Found this in the Observer. WW also posted it on his site. It offers a few more details.
-----------------------------------------


Cyclist killed in Wesley Chapel

ESTHER ROBARDS-FORBES

erobards@charlotteobserver.com (erobards@charlotteobserver.com)

WESLEY CHAPEL --

A bicyclist was killed Sunday afternoon in Wesley Chapel, in western Union County, after being struck by an oncoming driver, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Brian Charles Rau, 46, of Waxhaw, was biking north on Cuthbertson Road about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the accident report.
A 2001 Mazda van driven by Lisa Ann Ray, 46, of Waxhaw was traveling south. Her vehicle crossed the center line and struck Rau, the report said.
Ray, 46, was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
Rau was transported by ambulance to CMC-Union. Ray was taken to Presbyterian Matthews.

[serotta]

My son just got in from school. He is a classmate of Mr. Rau's daughter. The report at school was simply, he was killed in a traffic accident.

[Derby]

A friend of mine who is friends with the homeowner who's mailbox was hit by this driver maintains a blog and has a post-account of the accident and what transpired as told by her 13yr old daughter...

http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/2008/01/life-is-short.html

[serotta]

I didn't know it was Lysa's mailbox. My son plays soccer with her boys. I was under the impression Brian was traveling in the opposite directions. Derby thanks for the update and the link.

[WheresWaldo]

Bob, there is no indication in the post that the mailbox was on the same side of the road she was traveling on. The police report does ssay she crossed the line. That would indicate to me that she crossed the center line, hit Brian then hit the mailbox. A tragedy no matter how it was.

Derby it was a moving story.

[serotta]

WW It was my understanding that the rider and the mailbox were both on the same side of the road and the driver crossed the centerline to hit both rider and mailbox. It was also my understanding that Brian was heading out of his development on his way to meet some riders at the HT on Providence Road. That, evidently erroneous, information would place him going in the opposite direction (ie towards Providence rather then New Town). Regardless of my uninformed assumptions, a tragic loss still!

John

[WheresWaldo]

Ok, I guess I didn't get that. I thought he was headed back home as 3:30-3:45pm is late to be headed out for a ride in the winter. Even though my wife travels Cuthbertson often, (she works for the management company that assists both Champion Forest and Lawson) I can't remember the last time I was on that road. So I have no idea which direction Brian was traveling.

A side note; I have been getting some comments on my site from non-cyclists who knew Brian. They are relating stories about him to help "fill in the details" of just what kind of man Brian was. It is good to see the outpouring.

John, I am also sorry I called you Bob.