Injured Bicyclist Still Recovering

Mon April 13 2009
Posted Apr 13, 2009
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Rural Madison County A Des Moines bicyclist remains hospitalized after being hit by a trailer being pulled by a passing truck. Doug Smith was riding with a group of eight cyclists on Cumming Road in Madison County Saturday morning. Other cyclists say a truck pulling two anhydrous tanks pulled up behind the group and started honking, then tried to pass in a no passing zone. According to the Madison County sheriff, when 78-year-old John Lynch of rural Cumming tried to merge back into the right lane, the back of his trailer hit Smith. "This guy was laying on the horn the entire time. He was passing us unsafely close, he was trying to scare us," said Maria Ruhtenberg. Friends say Smith suffered a fractured skull and pelvis. He is listed in good condition. Lynch has been ticketed for unsafe passing.