Bicyclist dies after getting hit by car

By KATU Web Staff Published: Feb 3, 2007 at 12:55 PM PST Last Updated: Apr 14, 2009 at 2:23 PM PST
Bicyclist dies after getting hit by car »Play Video
This is a photo from Nicholas Bucher's MySpace page. Bucher was killed Feb. 2 when he was struck by a car while riding a bike.

PORTLAND, Ore. - A 24-year-old bicyclist who was seriously injured after getting struck by a car later died of his injuries.

The crash happened just before midnight on Friday at the intersection of Southeast 26th Avenue and Stark Street.

"I heard the screeching of the brakes and then after that I heard a guy," said Kymberlee Hollenback, who lives nearby. "I was getting dressed because I realized it was pretty bad and I heard a guy calling for help. 'Somebody help! Somebody help! 'Somebody call 911!' And then I heard someone calling for blankets and by then I was out the door."

According to police, the car's driver, 32-year-old Cyrus Stanger, was headed eastbound on Southeast Stark Street when he collided with a bicycle operated by 24-year-old Nicholas Bucher.

Police say prior to the collision, Bucher had been riding the bicycle westbound on Southeast Stark Street. Investigators concluded that the collision occurred when Bucher tried to turn on Southeast 26th Avenue and rode into the path of Stanger's car.

Bucher was taken to Oregon Health & Science University, but died while receiving medical treatment.

Meanwhile, Stanger remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Stanger submitted to a toxicology test as well, but the results are not expected to be in for 30 days. Investigators believe speed was a factor in the collision.

Stanger was cited for one count of Assault in the Fourth Degree. Although he has a history of careless driving and speeding, police say they are just going to look at the facts in this particular case.  The investigation is ongoing.