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O'Fallon, Ill., alderwoman hit with can while bicycling

O’Fallon, Ill., Alderwoman Mary Schmidt was cycling with her husband and a friend May 8 on Witte Road north of the city, when someone in a passing truck threw an unopened beer can at Schmidt, striking her in the arm, the O'Fallon Progress newspaper reported.

“A truck came up along side of us going about 60 mph, we figure, and maybe a foot away from us, and I think they underhanded a beer can at us,” Schmidt told the Progress.

Schmidt told the Progress after the can hit her the cyclists flagged down a passing motorist who caught up to the truck and got the license plate number. Schmidt also called the police. She said she got another look at the white Dodge “king cab” when it drove by a second time as Schmidt was on the phone with police.

The St. Clair County Sheriff's Department is investigating the case.

Mary Schmidt is the wife of Steve Schmidt, one of the key members of the Metro East Cycling club. MEC will be holding its first-ever O'Fallon Grand Prix on May 31. Let's hope the driver of the white truck is nowhere to be found that day -- and preferably behind bars.

Labels: bicycles, Illinois, safety

Roger 3 comments 1:14 PM

Comments:

Hopefully they will find the truck and press charges against them.

A friend of mine had a guy in blue ford truck last summer throw an empty beer bottle at him. There wasn't anyone around to track the truck down though.

# posted by  Anonymous : 2:55 PM

 

I hope so too. it pains me how these idiots have no regard for other human beings and their safety.

I had a can thrown at me once by a schoolgirl, i stopped and managed to humiliate her in front of her friends, without resorting to my usual cussing i may add!

anyway, sorry to hear what happened and i hope you reach a satisfactory resolution.

# posted by  horn : 7:45 AM

 

Found about this while searching on the round-a-bout O'Fallon is building on the spur (which seems crazy to me, but I can't find any info on it or why its being built).

One, as a cyclist I'm sorry this happened to her. If he was really about a foot away, he should be charged with attempted murder (an absolute minimum of three feet is between vehicles is generally recognized as needed. Any closer and you ARE trying to hit the person).

I also find it odd that a councilwoman would state that O'Fallon is not friendly to bicyclist. I agree with her, but its odd to hear it from a city official.

Anyhow, I hope they catch the guy and throw the book at him.

Charles Morris

# posted by  Anonymous : 6:04 PM

 

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