A group of Austin cyclists took it upon themselves to honor a fellow rider left to die in the road this weekend two days after he died when he was struck by a hit and run driver.
“It's heartbreaking because it won't be the last time,” predicted Azgad Crisostomo, an Austin cyclist who, along with another cyclist, put up a ghost bike in the 3500 block of South Lamar, the same area where an Austin cyclist was killed on Saturday.
A ghost bike is a real bicycle painted all white. They’re put up on the side of the road to mark the spot and honor the memory of a cyclist who was killed there, regardless of the reason or cause.
“This guy was somebody's son, somebody's brother,” said Al Bastidas, another Austin cyclist.
The incident happened close to midnight on Saturday, April 23. Andrew Runcimen, 24, a computer programmer, was riding his bicycle southbound on Lamar near State Highway 71.
Police say Runcimen was not wearing a helmet but he did have a working tail light and head light, both of which the City of Austin requires for cyclists riding at night.
Witnesses told police a dark colored SUV, which was also traveling southbound on South Lamar, hit Runcimen without slowing down, braking or stopping.
“We're not a possum or a raccoon on the road that you just hit on the road and keep going. No, we have loved ones as well, so be conscious of that,” pleaded Bastidas.
Crisostomo has a bleak prediction about future crashes between cars and bicycles and more and more people mount up on bikes thanks to soaring gas prices.
“Especially now with gas prices going up, we're going to see more commuters on bicycles. We're going to see more people riding their bikes and we're going to see more of these tragedies. We're going to see more of these types of accidents,” added Crisostomo
He’s hoping that in the meantime, drivers and cyclists learn to share the road in safety and in peace.
Anyone with information on the latest hit and run fatality are encouraged to call the Austin Police Department's Homicide Unit at (512) 974-8164.
