Gustavo Antonio Angalo was struck by a hit-and-run driver on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010, while riding his bicycle on Chapel Hill Road in Cary, North Carolina.
A Morrisville, N.C., woman, Kristen Marie Snipes, 26, was arrested Sunday by police in Lancaster, S.C., where she has family, according to Susan Moran, a spokesperson for the Town of Cary. Snipes was charged with felony hit and run, news reports said.
Police said that at about 9:45 p.m. Snipes was driving west on Chapel Hill Road between North Academy Street and North Harrison Avenue when she struck Angalo on his bike from behind. Angalo, 26, of Cary was in fair condition Sunday, according to officials at WakeMed hospital in Raleigh.
Angalo was wearing a helmet, but it came off during the accident, Moran said. She did not know whether Angalo’s bike had lights, which are required by law.
Passengers in a car witnessed what happened, stopped to help the victim, and reported the license plate of the car involved, according to Moran.
We commend the witnesses of this incident for quickly rendering assistance to Angalo, possibly saving him from being hit by other vehicles, and for doing their civic duty in reporting what they saw to the police.
This accident is a reminder of how important it is for bicyclists to remember safety rules such as always wearing a helmet and maximizing their visibility.
We wish the victim a speedy and full recovery.