July 5, 2009
- Portland, Oregon
Driver in fatal collision with Eugene cyclist calls for helmet law
By Elissa Harrington, KVAL in Eugene
EUGENE - "I've been called a killer," says 31-year-old Latasha Williams. "I've been called a murderer."
Williams hasn't driven a car since June 2. That was the day she collided with cyclist David Minor along 13th Avenue and Willamette Street in downtown Eugene. It was a day that took one life and changed many others. "I have nightmares every night," she says. "I'm moving to Springfield just so I don't have to go downtown to go to school or work." Police say the day of the accident, Minor wasn't wearing a helmet. Since then, Williams has been devoting her life to bike safety and is pushing to make helmets mandatory for everyone that rides a bicycle. "I started writing emails to Congressmen," she says, "to Representatives and to Senators." State Senator Floyd Prozanski plans to try and expand the state helmet law in the 2009 legislative session. Bicyclists have mixed reactions to the proposal. "People should be allowed to make decisions by themselves," says cyclist Aaron Nelton. "They're awkward looking, they look weird, they make your head all sweaty, and they're not really necessary when you're going 20 miles per hour," says Samuel Freeman. Cyclist Andrew Alef rides his bike every day and says his helmet has saved his life. "I cracked several helmets where they were absolutely unusable," he says. Williams says she feels sick every time she sees a cyclist not wearing a helmet. She said since she can't take back the life that was lost at least she might help save another. "Live through my life," she says. "Live through David Minor's family's life. It's not easy." |
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