Bicyclist Killed in Crash in Frederick County

The bicyclist hit on January 11th was traveling east along Route 7. The driver of a 2006 Mistubishi Lancer was traveling in the same direction but lost control of the vehicle. Through witnesses, police know that the driver lost control of the vehicle, ran off the left side of Route 7, then overcorrected and ran off the right side of the roadway. That driver is responsible for the death of the bicyclist as they struck the cyclist as part of the overcorrection.

The bicyclist was a 49-year-old Winchester resident, Mark Smith, who was declared dead at the scene because of his injuries. The driver fled the scene, did not stop to see the extent of the injuries the cyclist suffered or contact any emergency services so far as police know. Witnesses reported the accident and law enforcement arrived on the scene quickly.

The witnesses at the scene may play a critical role in ultimately identifying the driver. They explained the issues with the loss of control and the overcorrection. Other evidence includes the marks along the guardrails and along the roadway to support the witness statements. These bits of evidence can help police begin their investigation.

From the information from witnesses and the erratic driving patterns, the police suspect that alcohol is a present factor as was speeding. The crash has an open investigation, and State Troopers are looking to expand beyond Frederick County for this crash.

Anyone with information on the crash or the victim can call into the Virginia State Patrol’s Division for accident reconstruction team, the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, or the Frederick County Sherriff’s Office. At the scene, the Frederick County Fire department and the Department of Transportation both aided in cleanup and gathering of evidence for the crash recreation. If you or someone you know was involved in a bicycle accident, contact a Richmond bicycle accident attorney today.

Source: https://wtvr.com/2020/01/11/frederick-crash/