Advertisement Bicyclist killed in West Carson Street accident 47-year-old was "casual cyclist" Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Local bicyclists held a rally Wednesday night in Oakland to remember a man who was fatally struck by a vehicle and to call for more bike-friendly roads in Pittsburgh."The cycling community doesn’t even know who my brother was. He was just a casual cyclist. And for them to show up and do this for him -- it's great," said Sean Flanagan, whose brother, Dennis, was killed in the accident.VIDEO: Watch Beau Berman's reportAuthorities said Dennis Flanagan, 47, of McKees Rocks, was struck by a pickup truck Tuesday afternoon on West Carson Street. The road was shut down near the West Busway while police investigated into the evening rush hour.The medical examiner's office ruled Flanagan's death an accident and said the cause was blunt and crushed injury to the head, chest and extremities. No charges have been filed while the investigation continues.Family members drove to Pittsburgh from New Jersey Tuesday immediately after learning Flanagan was hit.“She’s devastated. It’s hard for her," said Flanagan's cousin, Maclean Madak.Madak was referring to Flanagan's 16-year-old daughter."He was a great father, a great man," Madak said. "He’d give you the shirt off his back."Flanagan had recently started riding his bike daily as a way to lower his high cholesterol, Madak said, so he could be around for his daughter."You just go out and try to better your health, and end up dying. It's terrible," she said.Flanagan's brother-in-law, Joe Lourenco, traveled to Pittsburgh from New Jersey after learning of the bike accident. He expressed surprise upon seeing the stretch of West Carson Street where Flanagan was killed."We went there when we put flowers at the location. We were looking at it, and it really doesn't make any sense," Lourenco said."There may be change over there on that highway, but it's going to take his death to make that change."Get the WTAE Pittsburgh's Action News 4 App