Shaver Family Speaks Out After Fatal Crash

Tue September 13 2005
Posted Sep 13, 2005
9,867

Attorney Says Driver Is 'Distraught' POSTED: 5:07 pm CDT September 13, 2005 UPDATED: 5:33 pm CDT September 13, 2005 DES MOINES, Iowa -- The family of an Ankeny businessowner who was killed while riding his bike spoke out Tuesday. Brian Shaver, 45, was killed at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday as he was riding his bike east of Ankeny on Northeast 94th Avenue. The Polk County Sheriff's Office said the driver left the scene. They said they know who the driver is, but no arrests have been made. NewsChannel 8 spoke with the driver's lawyer Tuesday afternoon. He said his client will turn himself in when deputies charge him with a crime, NewsChannel 8 reported. Shaver's family held back tears Tuesday as they talked about the man they loved. Shaver's wife, Sheryl, said they were planning a trip for that Sunday morning. "We planned to leave Ankeny around 7 in the morning to go on a trip. He was trying to get a last-minute bike ride in before we did a lot of car driving," Sheryl Shaver said. Bicycling was a family activity for the Shavers. They rode together in the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). But Sheryl Shaver is not sure whether the family will continue to ride. "It'll be hard to do it because it's one of those things we did together," Sheryl Shaver said. Late Monday, police said they received a call from attorney Jake Feuerhelm, who told them that one of his clients thought he was the driver that struck Shaver. Police have been in contact with Feuerhelm, but they have yet to talk to the driver himself. Sheryl Shaver said it bothers her that someone could leave another person who was that badly hurt. "At this point, it's a total life-changing occurrence. So closure would be nice, but it's not going to make any difference to the outcome." Sheryl Shaver said. Funeral services for Shaver are set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Ankeny Funeral Home. Feuerhelm told NewsChannel 8 that the driver is distraught. The driver could face charges of involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident.