Salem bicyclist dies from injuries two weeks after downtown crash
A Salem cyclist died last month from injuries sustained after crashing into a car downtown in February, police said Friday, April 3.
Richard A. Hawkins, 67, was riding an electric bicycle through the intersection of Northeast Union and Front streets when he crashed into a car, a statement from the Salem Police Department said.
The crash happened Saturday, Feb. 28, at around 10:22 p.m., according to police. Hawkins died two weeks later on Saturday, March 14, the statement said.
Police first reported the crash as part of a social media post days later, and said Hawkins was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Previously, police said an initial investigation found that Hawkins rode through a red light before the crash. He was riding westbound on Union Street, and the driver involved was driving northbound on Front Street, the recent statement said.
Witnesses told officers there was a green light for Front Street traffic at the time of the crash.
The driver, a 21-year-old Salem woman, called 911, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police said. The statement did not identify her.
The case is being sent to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, as it reviews all death investigations even when there is no criminal element, Salem police said.
This is the fourth fatal crash in the Salem area so far this year, according to Salem Reporter’s coverage.
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].
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Madeleine Moore joined Salem Reporter in 2024 and reports on a variety of topics including public safety, addiction, treatment and the criminal justice system. She came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
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“7️⃣ Crash – Front Street NE – Saturday
Officers responded to a car versus bicycle crash. The bicyclist sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. The driver was cooperative and remained at the scene. The investigation indicated the bicyclist rode through a red light prior to the crash. Southbound Front Street NE was closed for approximately 1.5 hours during the investigation. ” -Salem PD on Facebook; The wording makes me cringe. It’s not “car versus bicycle”. It’s two fallible human beings attempting to arrive where they need to go alive- one of them happened to be in a 2 ton metal box.