A 58-year-old man died while riding his bike last week after being struck by a driver who then fled the scene in East Baltimore, police announced today.
The cyclist, Wayne Richardson, was heading west on July 30 in the 2800 block of E. Madison Street around 10:15 p.m., police said. A driver who police believe was also headed westbound hit him with his car on the four-lane road and “may have briefly stopped after the crash,” but left before officers arrived.
Richardson, whose last listed address was in Frankford, was taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.
Police are searching for a dark-colored, four-door sedan last seen heading in that direction on E. Madison Street. The car “should have heavy front end damage and could be missing the front bumper,” police said today.
Richardson’s family could not be immediately reached Monday morning.
Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 410-396-2606.
The incident happened about six weeks after another fatal collision between a driver and a cyclist in Baltimore. Michael Hughes Jr., of the 4200 block of Falls Road, was headed northward on Falls Road near the Hampden branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library on June 17 when he was hit by a Chevy Silverado pulling a trailer. The driver remained at the scene in that case.
Hughes’ family said surveillance video from a neighbor’s camera indicated he was clipped, possibly by a side mirror, before he fell and was run over by the truck’s rear tires. He died a week later at University of Maryland Shock Trauma.
Police had said they were working with city prosecutors to determine whether to pursue charges against the driver. As of today, no charges have been filed, spokesman Det. Jeremy Silbert said.
Cycling advocacy nonprofit Bikemore issued a statement mourning both Hughes and Richardson, and criticizing the city for stalled progress on cycling infrastructure improvements.
“It is difficult to find the words when a second person riding a bike was killed by someone driving a car in the span of six weeks,” the nonprofit said. “It’s frustrating when we have the infrastructure tools necessary to prevent fatal crashes, but our city delays design and construction because of backlash from drivers.”
The organization added: “We did not know Wayne Richardson. We did not know Mickey Hughes. But we grieve for them just the same.”
This story has been updated.
Bicyclists should stay off the roads in Baltimore. I opened my drivers side door one Saturday morning in the 3100 block of Barclay Street and almost caused a passing bike rider I did not see and was not looking for to hit my opening door and possibly kill him. It’s just too dangerous.