June 22, 2019

Bicyclist killed Friday night in Warrenton accident

Photo/Don Del Rosso

The accident happened at this intersection just after 6:30 p.m. Friday.

A 25-year-old bicyclist died Friday night in Warrenton after a car struck him, according to town officials



A 2014 BMW hit the bicyclist at Alexandria Pike and Horner Street, according to Town Manager Brandie Schaeffer.



Warrenton police responded at 6:36 p.m.



“The bicyclist, a 25-year-old Michigan man, was pronounced dead at the scene,” Ms. Schaeffer said. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the car was making a left turn from Alexandria Pike onto Horner Street. The bicyclist was traveling north on Alexandria Pike. The car and the bicycle collided in the intersection.”



Town officials have not released the name of the cyclist or of the BMW driver.



Town and state police continue to investigate.



“The town council was saddened to learn of the news of the cyclist,” Ms. Schaeffer said. “The Mayor and I both enjoy riding and the town council has promoted safer streets with complete streets initiatives.



“The crash is under investigation so I can’t further comment, but we will continue to make safety of cyclists on streets a priority here in Warrenton. We are thinking about his family and their loss at this time.”



Member comments

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Cammie Rodgers · July 1, 2019 at 10:03 pm Blake had just graduated from training at the Warrenton Training Center and was preparing for his first assignment overseas. Loss of a future diplomat and representative of our country overseas. Condolences to his loved ones and friends.

maryjdkns@gmail.com · June 28, 2019 at 4:44 pm So tragic, but I can see how it can easily happen even when both the driver of the automobile and a cyclist are paying attention. When you have vehicles of different sizes traveling on the same road it's an accident waiting to happen. I guess there's nothing to be done about it but try our best to avoid hitting smaller vehicles that are maneuvering perhaps quicker than we are.



Tom LaHaye · June 25, 2019 at 3:21 pm I'm sensitive to the complaints here regarding inconsiderate cyclists. I'm sure it happens, but it shouldn't, and I haven't experienced it. What I have experienced are some very close calls with inattentive or just ignorant drivers, and a cyclist, even with a helmet on is incredibly exposed. Examples? I've been "hooked" many times. What is a "hook"? Think of travelling east on 211 towards WAWA. There are two travel lanes, and shortly before the intersection, a right turn lane. If I am riding up to old town, I'm in the right travel lane, and invariably, rather than easing into the right turn lane behind me, drivers feel they need to pass me and then change lanes directly in front of me. Why? I've often had cars entering a street directly in front of me, causing me to hit the brakes and take evasive action. I also had an SUV pass me, while I was at or just under the speed limit on the little bridge by FHS while another SUV is in the oncoming lane. There's not room for that there, and with the short concrete walls, there is no escape for the cyclist.



I can imagine how this accident happened. The cyclist was traveling downhill on Alexandria Pike, probably moving pretty fast. Perhaps he was being conscientious, and was riding as far right as he could, and was not clearly visible next the parked cars. The driver was perhaps in a hurry, maybe not paying attention, and maybe didn't know how fast the bike was travelling. Regardless, in my vision of this accident, the cyclist was the "thru-vehicle" and had the right of way. When I'm riding in a situation like this, especially when traveling fast, I tend to ride right down the center of the lane to make sure drivers can see me. I'm probably at or above the speed limit so I'm certainly not holding anyone up. Just the same, I keep my spider senses on high alert, watching for cars entering or turning off the roadway that might cut me off. Hopefully, I'll have time to react next time it happens, and it will.

Bonnie C. · June 25, 2019 at 1:43 pm Yes, this is a tragic situation, & it will be interesting to see how the investigation unfolds.



That said, I completely agree with the previous poster who asked why cyclists don't seem to have any responsibility towards protecting themselves?? Virginia has thousands of lovely country roads that are perfect for cycling, but at the same time many of us LIVE on these roads & can't spend hours waiting for cyclists to wake up & realize that there are ten cars are more piling up behind them because they are riding three or more abreast, or swerving on & off the shoulder, etc., etc. I've actually had a cyclist look back & smirk at me while he continued chatting with his companion. I wasn't driving to any fire or anything, but that was just plain rude. SHARING the road goes both ways.

DonkeyFarmer · June 24, 2019 at 11:30 pm Does not make sense that someone was killed by a car making a slow speed turn in a small car. I can see an injury but how did this guy get killed by a car travelling maybe 10mph?

brandonj · June 24, 2019 at 5:09 pm Sad news. That's not a high speed area, so one or both were probably going way too fast. It's downhill for the cyclist at least. Either:



1) cyclist collided into the side of vehicle turning left across traffic

2) was t-boned by the left turning vehicle.



Hopefully this bring more attention to cyclist safety in town, where that type of vehicular traffic should be welcomed.

Cammie Rodgers · June 24, 2019 at 2:38 pm "A Michigan man was killed Friday when the bicycle he was riding collided with a car in Warrenton, according to a town official.



The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred at 6:36 p.m. at the intersection of Alexandria Pike and Horner Street, said Warrenton Town Manager Brandie Schaeffer in a news release.



Upon arrival, first responders found that the bicycle had collided with a 2014 BMW driven by a 29-year-old man, the release said.



Preliminary investigation revealed that the car was making a left turn from Alexandria Pike onto Horner Street. The bicyclist was traveling north on Alexandria Pike.



The name of the bicyclist is not being released. The name of the driver of the car will not be released until the investigation determines if charges will be filed, the release said.



The remaining facts and circumstances are under investigation by the Warrenton Police Department and Virginia State Police." Fauquier.com

Silii · June 24, 2019 at 12:14 pm This is every biker's and every driver's worst nightmare. The roads and streets in this area just seem incompatible with "sharing the road." Saturday, I was traveling on Rt. 55 from Rectortown area towards Marshal - a 55 mph highway. Two bikers were leisurely pedaling along around 5 mph, wandering into the center of the lane. There is mostly a double yellow line along that portion of the highway for good reason - blind hills and no way to see oncoming traffic. There was a lot of oncoming traffic. It took me almost 10 minutes keeping my truck and loaded horse trailer to under 5 mph for nearly 10 minutes making sure I didn't overtake them while watching for a break to pass - before I could pass the first biker, then another 5 minutes to get around the second. The bikers seemed totally oblivious to the long line of traffic building up behind them. 5 mph on a bicycle on a 55 mph highway, swerving in the lane. Don't bikers have any responsibility under the law to help protect their own safety? Is it asking too much to ask bikers to use some common sense while having a leisurely ride on a 55 mph busy highway? The accident in Warrenton is tragic, but in some ways not surprising.

Truepat · June 24, 2019 at 6:33 am The "other" paper reported that the bicyclist ran into the car. One would suppose that means the bicycle hit the car beyond the front bumper on its passenger side at some point, yet this article leads you to believe the bicycle was hit by the front bumper area of the car resulting in the car hitting the bicycle. Please clarify, regardless it is a sad situation......

Allen Muchnick · June 23, 2019 at 2:51 pm This seems to have been a motorist left-cross crash. Since left-turning drivers are required to yield to drivers who are traveling straight through the intersection, the crash investigation should find the motorist at fault.



I would like to learn the findings of the crash investigation.

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