Truck hits, injures bicyclist; police say teen driver was text-messaging
By The Denver Post
Highlands Ranch - A text- messaging teenager behind the wheel of a Chevrolet truck ran over a 63-year-old bicyclist in Highlands Ranch at about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday.
The victim was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, said Lt. Alan Stanton of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
The newer-model truck was eastbound on Wildcat Reserve Parkway just west of Summit View Road when it crossed into the eastbound lane and collided with the bicycle, Stanton said.
The victim, whose name wasn't immediately released, was airlifted by helicopter to a local hospital.
Stanton said the initial investigation revealed the young driver was text-messaging on his cellphone when the accident occurred.
It isn't believed that alcohol, drugs or excessive speed were a factor in the accident.
The youth was released to his parents at the scene.
Both the truck driver and the bicyclist are residents of Highlands Ranch, Stanton said.
As a pre-script to this thread, on behalf of the moderators and administrators on the forum, I thought I would give a heads up about sydney.
sydney (didn't like his name to be capitalized) was a member of our forums since January 24, 2004. Incredibly, during the nearly two years that he posted on this forum, he posted over 14 posts per day and over ninety-four hundred posts, with the majority of them being in the Bike Mechanics Forum, elevating him to the fifth highest poster of the over thirty thousand members (as of today, November 26, 2005).
Earlier this week, sydney (real name Jim Price, of Littleton, CO) was riding in the bike lane when a 17 year old who was driving and text messaging on his cell phone drifted over into the bike lane and struck Jim, seriously injuring him. The paramedics did cpr on the scene, then took him to the hospital, where he remained on life support, until his family could reach his side. Later, his family took him off life support. Jim died.
We remember sydney here and we honor him with our memories, and we do keep him alive. He is not of this world anymore, but his spirit will always remain with us. He lives through these forums. He lives through our memories. We will always remember sydney for his profoundly prolific contributions. No matter how brash or abrasive he was, he was always well respected, sought after for advice, and gave incredible advice to people, often going out of his way to elaborate on subjects. No subject was ever treated with anything but total seriousness when dealing with bikes. It is clear sydney loved cycling. It is also clear he was an authority on the subject, and was a great help to many members here.
It is sad that we were not able to express our gratitude to sydney fully for the wisdom he gave. His life was taken well before his time, and though we all wish we could express to him our thanks and praise him for the wonderful advice he gave, we know that is not possible. We do hope, however, that Jim's family will take comfort in knowing that this thread will remain here in honor of sydney. We also ask that Jim's family feel free to return here and continue to participate and use sydney's username and account. I think we would all take some comfort in that.
I end this by using the words of sydney's daughter, Kimberlee when she quoted her father-
Hi, Just curious were you wondering like me if he might be Jim Price aka biker_billy on the other forum that was reportedly killed by motorist while cycling in the Denver area? I was certainly saddened by reports of Billy's death. He was a valuable source of information and an avid cyclist. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Hi, Just curious were you wondering like me if he might be Jim Price aka biker_billy on the other forum that was reportedly killed by motorist while cycling in the Denver area? I was certainly saddened by reports of Billy's death. He was a valuable source of information and an avid cyclist. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
I can't believe it! I haven't been participating on this forum for very long, but Sydney has always taught me a lot. Despite (and sometimes because of) being a curmudgeon. I feel heartsick that he might be really gone! God save us all from text-messaging teens!!
Here is an article identifying the man in question.
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. -- A 63-year-old Highlands Ranch man died Friday from his injuries in a car-bicycle crash earlier this week.
The Douglas County sheriff's office has identified the man as Jim R. Price. Authorities say he was hit by a car while he was riding his bike Wednesday at Wildcat Reserve Parkway and Summit View Road.
Price was pronounced dead Friday morning at Swedish Medical Center.
The sheriff's office said the 17-year-old driver may have been text-messaging on his cell phone when he swerved into the bicycle lane. The driver's name hasn't been released. He is also from Highlands Ranch.
Authorities don't think the driver was speeding or that drugs or alcohol were involved. But they say it's likely that charges of careless driving resulting in death will be filed.
The driver of the vehicle was released to his parents at the scene.
Several weeks ago sydney sold me several parts for my now completed bike. I just went out to the garage and found the box that the parts arrived in. The return address: James Price
If Jim Price is indeed Sydney, then sadly, he is dead. All of us should lift up Jim Price and his family in our prayers. Such a travesty. News Report
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Originally Posted by pgoat
U r a ceiling cat of teh intrawebz, my texicano friend
Several weeks ago sydney sold me several parts for my now completed bike. I just went out to the garage and found the box that the parts arrived in. The return address: James Price
RIP.
That is the confirmation I was seeking. RIP sydney
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Originally Posted by montana_cyclist
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