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Investigation continues in fatal bicycle crash
By Chris Roark, croark@starlocalnews.com
The Texas Department of Public Safety is continuing its investigation into a crash Monday afternoon in Highland Village that killed a Denton man.
According to a crash report, 64-year-old Robert Pfarr was struck by an SUV while riding his bicycle southbound on FM 2499 near the intersection of Harlington Drive. Pfarr was taken via CareFlite to Medical Center of Plano, where he died Tuesday.
The SUV, driven by a 19-year-old girl from Highland Village, was also traveling southbound on FM 2499.
The report stated that both the SUV and the bicyclist were in the right-hand lane with the bicyclist riding on the right edge of the roadway.
"The driver told the state trooper that she did not see him in time," said Sgt. Lonny Haschel, public information officer for the Texas Highway Patrol. "She said that she swerved to miss him, but she struck him with the right front end of the Infinity."
Haschel said the DPS has 10 business days from the day of the incident to conclude its investigation. At that point, it will send its findings to the district attorney's office, at which point a determination will be made as to whether or not charges will be filed against the driver. Haschel said a possible charge, if any, could be criminally negligent homicide.
The report stated that speed and rain were not factors. Haschel said the spot the crash occurred was not a curve. The report stated that driver distraction may or may not have been a factor.
Haschel said the bicyclist didn't appear to have done anything wrong.
"There are no indications that the bicyclist committed any traffic violations," Haschel said. "Bicycles count as a vehicle. They can be on the roadway. Bicyclists just have to follow the rules and regulations that other vehicles do."
There is not a sidewalk on that portion of FM 2499.
According to a crash report, 64-year-old Robert Pfarr was struck by an SUV while riding his bicycle southbound on FM 2499 near the intersection of Harlington Drive. Pfarr was taken via CareFlite to Medical Center of Plano, where he died Tuesday.
The SUV, driven by a 19-year-old girl from Highland Village, was also traveling southbound on FM 2499.
The report stated that both the SUV and the bicyclist were in the right-hand lane with the bicyclist riding on the right edge of the roadway.
"The driver told the state trooper that she did not see him in time," said Sgt. Lonny Haschel, public information officer for the Texas Highway Patrol. "She said that she swerved to miss him, but she struck him with the right front end of the Infinity."
Haschel said the DPS has 10 business days from the day of the incident to conclude its investigation. At that point, it will send its findings to the district attorney's office, at which point a determination will be made as to whether or not charges will be filed against the driver. Haschel said a possible charge, if any, could be criminally negligent homicide.
The report stated that speed and rain were not factors. Haschel said the spot the crash occurred was not a curve. The report stated that driver distraction may or may not have been a factor.
Haschel said the bicyclist didn't appear to have done anything wrong.
"There are no indications that the bicyclist committed any traffic violations," Haschel said. "Bicycles count as a vehicle. They can be on the roadway. Bicyclists just have to follow the rules and regulations that other vehicles do."
There is not a sidewalk on that portion of FM 2499.
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