Eau Claire (WQOW) - Police say witnesses detained an elderly man who continued driving after hitting an Eau Claire bicyclist.
The
bicyclist, Kirk Cartwright, 51, died from his injuries. Police
say 90-year-old Archie Vanwormer was driving on Clairemont Avenue Friday
afternoon when he started to turn onto a side street. He missed the
corner and drove onto the bike path hitting Cartwright.
Police say Vanwormer drove another three blocks on the bike path. When he stopped
at the intersection of Craig Road, witnesses used their vehicles to
prevent him from going any farther. One reached into Vanwormer's SUV
and took his keys, while another ran to a nearby store to call police.
Investigators
still don't know why he left the road and are investigating whether he
had any health issues or confusion. He told them the sun may have been
in his eyes so yesterday police went back to the scene at the same
time of the crash to see if that could have been a factor.
Information
from the accident reconstruction will now be analyzed.
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Press Release from Eau Claire Police
On June 29, 2012 Eau Claire Police investigated a traffic crash which led to the death of a bicyclist in the 1100 block of W. Clairemont Ave.
The vehicle involved in the collision was driven by Archie R. Vanwormer, (DOB: 03/01/1922) of Eau Claire. Vanwormer was transported to a local hospital after the crash for evaluation.
The bicyclist was identified as Kirk D. Cartwright (DOB: 09/02/1960), also of Eau Claire. As indicated in the previous news release, Cartwright was transported to a local hospital and died shortly after arrival.
The investigation has been turned over to the Eau Claire Police Department crash reconstruction team for follow-up. Vanwormer was referred to Wisconsin DOT for a review of his license status.
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Eau Claire (WQOW)- An Eau Claire man has died after being hit by a car while riding a bicycle.
His name has not been released. The accident happened just before 1:00 p.m. Friday afternoon, near the intersection of Clairemont Avenue and Hendrickson Drive.
Police say a Driver left the highway and hit a bicyclist on the bike trail. The man was taken to the hospital with severe injuries and died shortly after arriving. He was 51-years old.
The crash is still under investigation.
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Press Release from the Eau Claire Police Department: On June 29, 2012 at 1239 hrs, EC Fire Department and EC Police Department personnel responded to a crash in the 1100 block of W. Clairemont Ave.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a west-bound vehicle left the highway at the intersection of W. Clairemont Ave at Hendrickson Dr. and continued west-bound on the bike path on the north side of the Highway. The vehicle struck a bicyclist traveling west-bound on the bike path.
The bicyclist, a 51 year old Eau Claire resident, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with severe injuries. He died shortly after arrival at the Hospital.
Names are being withheld pending family notifications. Additional investigation will continue.
