KevinK
06-01-2006, 12:20 PM
The local newspaper told the tale:
Woman dies in bike wreck on rural road
By Jim Feehan
The Register-Guard
Published: Thursday, June 1, 2006
COTTAGE GROVE - A 47-year-old Eugene woman was struck and killed by a loaded log truck Wednesday as she rode her bicycle on Territorial Road west of here.
The woman, identified by Oregon State Police as Jane Higdon, was hit at 3:27 p.m. while riding southbound on Territorial with three other cyclists near Hamm Road. Higdon steered into the southbound lane from the edge of the roadway to avoid another cyclist who had tumbled at the same time the log truck, also traveling south, was approaching.
The truck driver, John McWhorter, 31, of Winston turned into the northbound lane in an attempt to avoid Higdon, but the right side of his truck struck her. After the impact, the truck driver came to a stop a short distance from the accident.
Higdon died instantly, Oregon State Police Sgt. Ron Martin said.
Higdon was a food scientist at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. A research associate and author on the institute's Web site, Higdon studied whether proper nutrition could reduce the risk of developing disease.
She competed in several area marathons and triathlons.
On Wednesday, Higdon was taking part in an informal weekly bicycle ride among friends that has been going on for 10 years, according to a member of that day's ride.
Higdon and the group of cyclists began a 50-mile loop that took them from Fox Hollow Road to Lorane Highway, Territorial Road, Hamm Road, through Creswell and back to Fox Hollow Road.
The stretch of road where the accident took place was curvy.
Oregon State Police were investigating the accident, with help from the Lane County Sheriff's Office.
Territorial Road was closed for about 3 1/2 hours.
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Jane and her husband TJ were fixtures at the Sunday Newman's ride. She was always smiling and very friendly, she was an superb cyclist and an awesome climber. I just rode that same road with Jane and the group this past Sunday as part of our 60 mile Cottage Grove Loop. I'm crushed, and I didn't know Jane that well. She was a best friend to a close friend of mine and I just can't imagine what she is going through. Jane and TJ were planning a trip to ride the Pyrenees in a month.
FWIW, the morning news on NBC said that a riding companion in the group disputed how accident was being reported, placing more blame on the truck driver. For now, I don't really care.
Kevin
Woman dies in bike wreck on rural road
By Jim Feehan
The Register-Guard
Published: Thursday, June 1, 2006
COTTAGE GROVE - A 47-year-old Eugene woman was struck and killed by a loaded log truck Wednesday as she rode her bicycle on Territorial Road west of here.
The woman, identified by Oregon State Police as Jane Higdon, was hit at 3:27 p.m. while riding southbound on Territorial with three other cyclists near Hamm Road. Higdon steered into the southbound lane from the edge of the roadway to avoid another cyclist who had tumbled at the same time the log truck, also traveling south, was approaching.
The truck driver, John McWhorter, 31, of Winston turned into the northbound lane in an attempt to avoid Higdon, but the right side of his truck struck her. After the impact, the truck driver came to a stop a short distance from the accident.
Higdon died instantly, Oregon State Police Sgt. Ron Martin said.
Higdon was a food scientist at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. A research associate and author on the institute's Web site, Higdon studied whether proper nutrition could reduce the risk of developing disease.
She competed in several area marathons and triathlons.
On Wednesday, Higdon was taking part in an informal weekly bicycle ride among friends that has been going on for 10 years, according to a member of that day's ride.
Higdon and the group of cyclists began a 50-mile loop that took them from Fox Hollow Road to Lorane Highway, Territorial Road, Hamm Road, through Creswell and back to Fox Hollow Road.
The stretch of road where the accident took place was curvy.
Oregon State Police were investigating the accident, with help from the Lane County Sheriff's Office.
Territorial Road was closed for about 3 1/2 hours.
----------
Jane and her husband TJ were fixtures at the Sunday Newman's ride. She was always smiling and very friendly, she was an superb cyclist and an awesome climber. I just rode that same road with Jane and the group this past Sunday as part of our 60 mile Cottage Grove Loop. I'm crushed, and I didn't know Jane that well. She was a best friend to a close friend of mine and I just can't imagine what she is going through. Jane and TJ were planning a trip to ride the Pyrenees in a month.
FWIW, the morning news on NBC said that a riding companion in the group disputed how accident was being reported, placing more blame on the truck driver. For now, I don't really care.
Kevin