Three bicyclists are dead after being killed by motorists on Iowa roadways in one weekend. The Iowa Bicycle Coalition is saddened and disturbed by these incidents.
Ellen Bengston, 28, was killed after being struck by a vehicle Sunday, August 2, 2020. Bengston was airlifted to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center after a truck driven by Colby Elliott, 43, of Clarksville, hit her on her bicycle while traveling southbound on Shadow Avenue, according to the Iowa State Patrol report. The state patrol said the crash occurred about 7:40 p.m. Sunday on Shadow Avenue north of 240th Street in Floyd County.
Rick Collum, 63, of Fort Dodge, was injured in the early morning hours of July 22 when he was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk along Kenyon Road and collided with a 1991 Chevrolet Caprice in the intersection of Avenue C and Kenyon Road. The driver of the Caprice, Joseph Johnson, 34, of Fort Dodge, was preparing to turn left onto Kenyon Road from Avenue C when Cullum’s bicycle collided into the side of the vehicle. Cullum was airlifted to Des Moines with life-threatening injuries. He died on Tuesday, ISP Lt. Mark Miller said.
Stephen McDonald, 52, of Jackson, Wyoming, was declared dead at the scene Friday, July 31, 2020, after he was struck by a motorist, Tiffany Turner, 33, near Knoxville, Iowa. The crash happened on Highway 14 North near the intersection with Highway G44 at approximately 8 a.m. on July 31. Both the motorist and McDonald were traveling in the same direction. McDonald biked nearly everywhere while he lived in Jackson since moving here in the 1990s. At one point, while driving trucks for a local excavation company, he pedaled 12 miles round trip to work every day. He was married with four children.
Each of these crashes deserve a fair and full investigation. Appropriate charges should be applied. The Iowa Bicycle Coalition will track these crashes as the investigation progresses.
The Iowa Bicycle Coalition reminds drivers to be on the lookout for bicyclists at any time, no matter what season or time of day. Drivers should be focused on the road and eliminate distractions while driving in order to concentration on the safety of others around them. Drivers should not drive while drowsy, drunk, drugged, or distracted.
We extend our condolences and our thoughts are with the families of Ellen Bengston, Rick Collum, and Stephen McDonald.
