On October 1st at 10:45 AM Gregory and Alexandra Bruehler, 42 and 36 years old respectively, were killed riding their tandem on Texas 16 just North of San Antonio. The road they were riding on has 2 lanes in each direction, with an 8 foot wide shoulder. They were riding on the shoulder. A Ford F150 swerved several times back and forth across the lane, crossed the shoulder completely into the grass, then struck the couple’s bike at over 70 mph on it’s way back onto the road.
The Bruehlers were avid cyclists and runners, with Gregory having run in the New York City Marathon this year. This is after the two of them were nearly killed in a car accident that left Gregory’s mother dead and both of them barely able to walk. Left behind is the couple’s seven year old daugheter, Kylie.
As there was no alcohol involved the Bexar County Sherriff’s department called the event an “accident” and the driver, Gilbert John Sullaway Jr., was not charged or arrested.
This of course brought outrage from the San Antonio cycling community. After many letters and phone calls to the Sherriff’'s office, the District Attorney’s office, the governer, and anyone else who’s contact info could be found the DA’s office finally has announced that they would investigate the incident to determine if they might bring charges.
Last night was the memorial service for the couple. 258 cyclists rode to the service and stood outside as mourners arrived. The family brought Kylie out to meet the riders and Gregory’s father walked down the line and shook each person’s hand.
The Bruehlers were the 3rd and 4th cyclists killed in San Antonio this year, with no one arrested in any of the cases.
On June 14th Anthony Cruz, 27, was cycling on FM 476 in Atascosa County in the evening when a pickup clipped the rear of the bike, sending Cruz flying. Cruz was killed. The pickup driver was not charged.
On Feburary 13th Enriquez Castillo, 47, was cycling on Nacogdoches Road in the early morning when hit by a driver who had looked down to change the radio station. Castillo died at the scene. The driver was not charged.
The first thing I want to say here is please, everyone be careful when you’re out there riding. We all know, or should know, that we are as good as invisible to the vast majority of drivers, many of whom are on cell phones, or reading, applying makeup or one of many other things that distract them from driving.
The second is that we, as a community, need to stand up and make our voices heard. We need to let it be known that it is unnaceptable for a driver to kill a cyclist and walk away with no charges or responsibility. The the driver’s above had hit other cars and killed their passengers they would have been charged. Had they hit and damaged someone’s property they would have been required to cover the damages. What if it had been a bunch of kids waiting for a school bus? Why is it that all you have to say is “oops, sorry” and you can hit cyclists with impunity? Write your elected officials, make sure they know where you stand on things like this.
Ride safe everyone.
