Remembering Patrick Sawyer, family stresses bike safety

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Posted: 7:07 PM Jul 23, 2008
Last Updated: 8:19 AM Jul 24, 2008
Reporter: Sarah Platt
Email Address: sarah.platt@wndu.com

23 comments

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Charges were filed today against a man involved in last week's hit-and-run in South Bend. 21-year-old Shane Ryan McGee is charged with failing to stop at an accident resulting in death. Police say McGee hit 40-year-old Patrick Sawyer, while Sawyer was riding his bike on Cleveland Road. Sawyer died from his injuries early Monday.

Patrick Sawyer was a husband, father of four, an avid kayaker and cyclist, to name just a few things. His family is hoping others can learn from his tragic death and be more aware of cyclists on the roads.

Patrick was a familiar face in South Bend. You may have seen him paddling along the St. Joseph River, riding his bike in town, or enjoying time with his family. He was also just a few weeks away from graduating from IUSB with a nursing degree, a career change he was passionate about. “There's just one word. We all loved Patrick. He was just great. That word describes him well,” says Marta Makielski, with the IUSB Nursing Program.

“There are so many reasons why this is a tough thing for the cycling community and the paddling community, just an amazing person. If you meet him, got to know him right away, just so easy to talk to,” says Henry Scott, a commuter cyclist who knew Patrick.

From acquaintances to good friends, all say Patrick's zest for life, family, health and the environment are what make this loss especially devastating.

Police say Patrick was following all the rules, riding with a helmet, a reflective vest, and lights when he was hit from behind by 21-year-old Shane Ryan McGee.

Friends say it's a hit and run accident that could have been avoided. “We need education all around, bicyclists to follow the rules better, to yield when they should; but in this case, we just need to slow down and follow the rules of the road and just be fully present while driving,” says Scott.

The Sawyer family is encouraging others to take caution when hitting the road, so no one has to deal with the loss they've been dealt. “Just ask motorists to think of driving-- that you're operating a very, very dangerous vehicle-- and you are risking the lives of other people if you aren't fully aware while driving,” adds Scott.

The family established a website dedicated to Patrick: (www.patrick.sawyersweb.com)
Patrick’s visitation and funeral services are posted on the family’s site.

A family friend tells Newscenter 16 that a Pat Sawyer Memorial Ride is being organized for next Tuesday. Details are still being finalized. Meantime, the owner of Outpost Sports is putting a challenge out to local bike shops, asking cyclists to help raise money for the Sawyer Memorial Fund. The money will go to help Patrick's four children.

Other helpful cycling related websites:
www.bikemichiana.org
www.mapmyride.com

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: John Location: Logansport on Jul 25, 2008 at 09:49 PM
My deepest sympathy to the family. Kokomo has lost one of its native sons, taken into God's company. I hadn't seen Patrick since 1975 or so at St. Pat's elementary school, but it sounds like he became a fine man. May you find peace in Heaven, Patrick.

Posted by: Slawomir Location: Granger on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:33 PM
Bicycle paths are cheaper to build than adding two more lanes to an existing highway. Studies done in Portland, OR, indicate than once an intelligent bicycle infrastructure is built, people will use it. That's the only way to be safe, mixing cars and bicycles will always be dangerous. And benefits of biking are so numerous, from general health to cutting down on car congestion and pollution, that even people who don't bike will benefit. From the societal point of view building an interconnected network of bicycle paths is a no-brainer. Just look at the cities around the world that did it, the evidence is overwhelming.

Posted by: Chaz doesn't get it on Jul 24, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Bike paths aren't just in Europe. You can go to many cities in this country where it's more of a priority, and many bike paths exist. The real problem is the blue collar mentality in the SB area and people like Chaz who think "so few people" would use it. The truth is (and studies show this) that people are much more likely to use bikes if paths are available ... esp with $4/gal gas. Hopefully, our civic leaders can see this trend and do something for their pay. Heck, half the roads in the area don't even have paved shoulders. A paradigm shift in consciousness is sorely needed!

Posted by: To D: Location: sb on Jul 24, 2008 at 04:41 PM
What are you taling about? Not everything on the road needs a license or a license plate. Scooters under 50cc require neither... Nor do they require insurance. Asking people to get licenses and plates for their bikes is ridiculous. Aso, how would that have prevented this accident?

Posted by: Chaz Location: South Bend on Jul 24, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Because we won't pay for it Slawomir. This is a country that doesn't give a #$%@ about anyone besides themselves so teh very idea of spending money on something that so few people would use is ludicrous. Despite it making sense...

Posted by: Svengali Location: elkhart on Jul 24, 2008 at 03:49 PM
I sympathize with the family, but lets be honest here. Bike riders who do not hug the shoulder but ride close to the yellow line and expect cars to drive 18 mph all the way to work are insane. Slower traffic stays right. Lets car pass you and don't be next. If you don't have plates and insurance, you are secondary traffic with the obligation to stay out of the way of faster vehicles. If they let bikes onto interstates, you know there would be people riding on them.

Posted by: David Location: Louisville, KY on Jul 24, 2008 at 03:37 PM
I'm a former Niles resident, and I've become a cyclist recently. Bikes have a right to the road. We must also follow the same laws as cars. I didn't know Patrick, but as an experienced cyclist, he most likely was following the rules. Tragic accidents happens. It's unfortunate that the driver didn't stop. It may not have saved Patrick's life, but we'll never know. I'm tired of hearing from drivers that us cyclists need training, or plates. Most of us have driver's licenses and cars.

Posted by: Slawomir Location: Granger on Jul 24, 2008 at 12:51 PM
What we need most of all is bicycle paths. Everywhere in Europe you see people riding bicycles on paths separated from car traffic and pedestrian traffic. Why can't we have that here?

Posted by: Jim Location: South Bend on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:13 AM
A fellow hit and run victim 2008, but I'm alive and thank God for this gift and ask many blessings on Patrick's family at this sad and tragic time. Peace and love to them.

Posted by: D Location: So Bend on Jul 24, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Cyclists on the street could have a cheap 10.00 plate on their bike good for five years & had gone thru the safety course & be riding on the street in the correct direction using hand signals ect. I always see an entire family riding bicycles including the youngest of children perhaps 4 years old, on the road next to a nice paved sidewalk. I walk on the sidewalk not on the road & I would not take my children on the road. I have driven behind many distracted motorists with the TV on & here they are turning into Meijer. And as they turn I can see the driver using a cell phone. Do your children really need the TV on just to go to the grocery store so you can talk on your cell? Do we have to be driven to distraction every mundane moment of the day? It’s a two way street. Everyone needs to be responsible & yet we all know that’s not going to happen. Has anyone seen the bicycle lanes on Angela? It’s suicide! H

Posted by: ace on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:54 AM
One thing to remember is that state law requires riding WITH the flow of traffic. Riding against traffic causes several problems. 1. greater combined speed in the event of a crash. Imagine a bike going 15 mph, car going 30. If the car hits the bike going with traffic it is a 15 mph impact. If the bike is heading against traffic, 45 mph impact. But more importantly, cars do not expect a vehicle to be coming in that direction when pulling out from a side street. So they pull out in front of the wrong-way rider. Also, riders going against the flow of traffic force riders who are following the law to move further away from the curb and into the flow of traffic. If you are concerned about seeing what is coming at you, the solution is to buy a $10 rear view mirror to clip onto your helmet or bike. Patrick was doing everything right. The only solution to accidents like this is for motorists and cyuclists to share the road with courtesy to one another. And for drivers to be aware!

Posted by: D Location: So Bend on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:33 AM
This man was doing everything right & the man driving the car should not have left the scene & instead tried to help the person he hit & call for help. MICHAEL This is not a large metropolition city where you have the streets set up for cyclists as routine transportation. The roads around here are for cars not for bicycles. Roundabouts & cyclists’ ironically are not in the manual you get from the license branch & I just picked one up this week. If cyclists’ want to use the road they should be a certain age & have to go thru a safety course at the license branch & get a small plate for their bike. Every other legalized form of transportation on the road has to have a plate, insurance, & a special permit or license to say ride a motorcycle. And you have to be a certain age! Why are the cyclists on the road exempt? Cyclists on the street could have a cheap 10.00 plate on their bike good for five years & had gone thru the safety course & be riding in the correct direction.

Posted by: Theresa Location: Florida on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:21 AM
God will continue to bless the Sawyer family as they have a strong, close, supportive and loving family. What a tragic unecessary death. We will continue to pray for the family and friends of Pat.

Posted by: Anon Location: Elkhart on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:03 AM
I've always been taught to walk against traffic, but ride my bike with traffic (a motorcycle wouldn't ride against traffic-that's how I remembered it as a kid). Anyway, with more people trying to save money at the pump by riding their bikes to work and such, we all need to be doubly aware and be extra watchful. My prayers are with this man's family and friends.

Posted by: Myrt on Jul 24, 2008 at 07:43 AM
Robert - what purpose does your comment serve? I didn't know Patrick but obviously he meant a lot to many people - there is nothing wrong with that at all. To everyone that knew Patrick my condolences.

Posted by: Jeff Location: South Bend on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:27 PM
The article doesn't say anything about Patick being a saint. It simply states that the people who knew and loved him thought he was a great person. What's wrong with that?

Posted by: sik Location: south bend on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:12 PM
whats funny here is i remember in elementary school that a cop told us about bike safety and he told us to go against traffic so nothing like this every happened cuz if u went against traffic you could atleast see the car coming at you if they were going to hit you

Posted by: Robert Location: Mishawaka on Jul 23, 2008 at 08:44 PM
Why is it that every time somebody dies they are always turned into a saint?

Posted by: Michael Location: Elkhart on Jul 23, 2008 at 08:12 PM
Michiana is not a bicycle friendly community. So many motorist believe that they have exclusive rights to road use. It's about time everyone in this community grow up and learn a little patience. Cyclist have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles. I commute to work by bicycle, and even out on county roads, rudeness imposed by motorist is a daily challenge. A little respect by both cyclist and motorist will go a long way in a community with heavy traffic volume. It also distresses me to see how many cyclists don't ride properly. We all need to follow the same rules so motorists will better be able to know how to react to a cyclist on a busy street. Please everyone, read state laws and suggestions on bicycle safety, both cyclist and motorist need to know this information to increase safety with the increase in bicycle traffic high gas prices is bringing us. signed Just say no to $4.00 a gallon gas, ride a bike!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Mishawaka on Jul 23, 2008 at 06:33 PM
I think all bike riders should be allowed to ride against traffic. At least I would have had a chance to get of idiots way. I bet the number of accidents would drop considerably.