Edward Carl Hedrick III
Edward Carl Hedrick III
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Age: 29
Location:
Poindexter
Charlotte , NC
United States
From Carl's obituary.
On May 1, 2011, Edward “Carl” Hedrick III, was fatally injured during a
competitive bicycle race in Charlotte, N.C. He was there visiting his
mother from New York City where he was employed as a bicycle messenger.
Born Dec. 16, 1981, Carl was a 1999 graduate of Allegany High School.
His lifelong love of cycling took him to New York City where he took to
Manhattan’s fast paced streets delivering everything from high fashion
clothing to feature length movies in pre-theatrical release. He recently
participated in a travel channel special “Triple Rush,” which depicted
the the daily risk and passion that messengers have for their vocation.
Carl is survived by his father, Edward Carl Hedrick Jr., of Cumberland;
mother Joni Dove Webster, of Charlotte, N.C., and sister, Lindsey Dove
Hedrick, of Baltimore.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2011, in New York
City, followed by a bike ride over the Williamsburg Bridge in which his
many friends and fellow messengers will carry his bike and ashes over
the bridge as they celebrate his spirit and ride in his honor.
The Williamsburg Bridge was a part of his daily commute from Brooklyn
to Manhattan where his love of NYC was strengthened by the view of the
city’s skyline. He was loved deeply and will be forever missed.
From the Charlotte Observer
Tribute to cyclist carries a message
Friends want 'ghost bike' to honor Carl Hedrick, help find driver who killed him
By Franco Ordoñez
fordonez@charlotteobserver.comPosted: Saturday, May. 14, 2011
div#nav { width: 310px; }
Slideshow
« Prev of 3 Next »
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05.13.2011: The "ghost bike" rests on a tree along Poindexter Drive
in south Charlotte as a tribute to Carl Hedrick, who was killed by a
hit-and-run driver on May 1. T.Ortega Gaines -
ogaines@charlotteobserver.com
-
Carl Hedrick (Photo by Peter Madsen, wordonthestreetnewyork.com)
-
Carl Hedrick's mother, Joni Webster, said her son moved to Charlotte
from New York in January and planned to return this month. Webster said
he didn't know many people and was excited to meet other cyclists at a
social ride on April 30. COURTESY OF JONI WEBSTER
More Information
-
Can you help?
If you have any information about the car or its driver, police ask that you call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Cars slow down when drivers see the painted white bicycle under
the street light in south Charlotte. A pink rose rests on the handlebars
and wildflowers have been woven into the spokes.
The "ghost bike" sits along Poindexter Drive as a memorial to
cyclist Edward Carl Hedrick, 29 - everybody knew him as Carl - where he
was killed May 1 by a hit-and-run driver before dawn.
Greg Martinez, who tried desperately to wave off the car that hit
Hedrick, helped paint the bike to help Hedrick's family and friends
deal with their grief.
"It also serves as a reminder to people of what happened," he
said. "It's also a weight on the driver's conscience. If they drive by
there a lot, hopefully one day they'll fess up to what they did."
The death of Hedrick, a former New York City bike messenger, has
triggered a groundswell of support from Charlotte to New York to London -
and a call to find his killer.
His mother, Joni Webster, learned of the hit and run watching the Sunday morning news.
"My heart stopped at that point because I am at home having my
morning coffee," she said. "I know he was out on a ride. And he's not
home."
She texted Hedrick's cellphone.
"'Bicyclist hit and run....Let me know that you're good,'" she
wrote. "And then 20 minutes later the police showed up at the door."
Hedrick's death has shaken not only the biking community in
Charlotte, but also in New York, where he was well-known in the
close-knit courier community.
Last week, some 30 cyclists in New York City joined together for a
vigil and ride through the city to honor Hedrick and another cyclist
who died in a New York accident the same week.
Today, Webster and Martinez are in New York with Hedrick's bike
and some of his gear to join his New York friends on a memorial ride
across the Williamsburg Bridge.
On Friday, a similar ride is being planned in south Charlotte
near the accident site. A third will take place in London, where Hedrick
also has cyclist friends.
Edmond de Jesus, a friend and fellow New York messenger, called Hedrick an "icon" in the courier community.
"Carl was one of those guys who you would see in a distance and
say, 'Hey, there comes Carl,' and then everyone knew that fun times were
about to begin," said de Jesus.
"Iconic, because the puzzle wasn't complete without him. And now
that piece is forever gone and there is no other piece that will replace
that empty spot that Carl left. Nothing fits there."
Webster said she's been overwhelmed by the response.
"It's been a whirlwind of 'Oh my God,'" she said. "I didn't
realize he had so many friends, and I didn't know how many people cared
for him."
In a November interview with the website word on the street new york.com , Hedrick talked about the excitement of "flying through traffic."
"I like to ride my bike," he said. "I get bored with everything
else. I guess this will be another one of those stories I tell when I'm
old."
Friends find it ironic that Hedrick survived the traffic of New York City, but died on a neighborhood road in south Charlotte.
The poker run
Webster said her son had moved to Charlotte in January to save
money and planned to return to New York this month. He worked at a
Charlotte shipping company helping load overnight deliveries.
She said he didn't know many people and was excited to meet some
cyclists organizing a social biking event that Saturday evening, April
30.
Known as a poker run, the ride coincided with Charlotte's
two-week series of events to promote bike awareness but was not an
official part of the festivities.
The poker run involved cyclists riding to different bars where
they picked up playing cards and drank. At the end of the event, the
riders compared their cards and the one with the best poker hand won.
After the event, Hedrick joined some riders at an after-hours party
where he was seen with a wrench working on his bike.
By the time he had reached Poindexter Drive, Hedrick had been out
all night. He was not wearing a helmet, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
police report doesn't say whether alcohol was a factor in his falling
from his bike. The report says Hedrick had some bike trouble and ended
up falling.
Hedrick's friends tried to help him to his feet, but they say Hedrick was dazed from hitting his head.
It was still dark. A car was approaching. Martinez said the
riders tried to wave it off. He even held up Hedrick's silver bicycle
with reflectors to get the driver's attention.
Poindexter Drive is a popular cut-through between Park Road and
South Boulevard. It's lined with speed bumps. Police said the driver had
enough time and light to see the riders and stop.
"They didn't stop, man," Martinez said. "They never hit the brakes. Not even a tap."
Police said they're still searching for the driver of a light
blue or silver sedan, possibly a Toyota Corolla or Tercel, with damage
underneath. Several hours after receiving the news from the police,
Webster posted a short message on her son's Facebook page. Within hours,
she was receiving dozens of messages from friends and cyclists in New
York and London who were already planning the commemorative events.
Webster said she hopes the rides will also help find the person responsible.
"After so much time goes by, we may never find this person," she
said. "I don't want this to happen. The person who is responsible needs
to be held accountable."
From Charlotte Velo
On May 1, 2011. Edward Carl Hedrick III was killed by a hit-and-run
driver. The crash occurred just before sunrise at 6am under the tree
canopy of Poindexter Drive near Lawndale. Please help police find the
driver and his silver or light-blue Tercel or Corolla - likely with
minor damage to the front end and undercarriage. Carl was riding in a
small group when he fell off his bike. The driver hit Carl as he lay in
the road and fled the scene.
Carl's ghost bike
As usual for cases involving a fatality, no crash report was published by CMPD.
While the Observer claimed Carl was from Charlotte, word from his new
friends is that Carl was a bike messenger visiting from Brooklyn, NY.
Carl's Ghost Bike
Poindexter is a neighborhood street with a 25 mph speed limit and
speed bumps. The driver was heading north to South Blvd. Using
Poindexter as a cut-through to South Blvd has good access to I-77 South
via Remount Rd (only I-77 South.). I hope security cameras from the ATM
or the Shell station provide clues.
Carl's friends and family have my most sincere condolences, including his new friends present at the crash.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Age: 29
Location:
Poindexter
Charlotte , NC
United States
From Carl's obituary.
On May 1, 2011, Edward “Carl” Hedrick III, was fatally injured during a
competitive bicycle race in Charlotte, N.C. He was there visiting his
mother from New York City where he was employed as a bicycle messenger.
Born Dec. 16, 1981, Carl was a 1999 graduate of Allegany High School.
His lifelong love of cycling took him to New York City where he took to
Manhattan’s fast paced streets delivering everything from high fashion
clothing to feature length movies in pre-theatrical release. He recently
participated in a travel channel special “Triple Rush,” which depicted
the the daily risk and passion that messengers have for their vocation.
Carl is survived by his father, Edward Carl Hedrick Jr., of Cumberland;
mother Joni Dove Webster, of Charlotte, N.C., and sister, Lindsey Dove
Hedrick, of Baltimore.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2011, in New York
City, followed by a bike ride over the Williamsburg Bridge in which his
many friends and fellow messengers will carry his bike and ashes over
the bridge as they celebrate his spirit and ride in his honor.
The Williamsburg Bridge was a part of his daily commute from Brooklyn
to Manhattan where his love of NYC was strengthened by the view of the
city’s skyline. He was loved deeply and will be forever missed.
From the Charlotte Observer
Tribute to cyclist carries a message
Friends want 'ghost bike' to honor Carl Hedrick, help find driver who killed him
By Franco Ordoñez
fordonez@charlotteobserver.comPosted: Saturday, May. 14, 2011
div#nav { width: 310px; }
Slideshow
« Prev of 3 Next »
-
05.13.2011: The "ghost bike" rests on a tree along Poindexter Drive
in south Charlotte as a tribute to Carl Hedrick, who was killed by a
hit-and-run driver on May 1. T.Ortega Gaines -
ogaines@charlotteobserver.com -
Carl Hedrick (Photo by Peter Madsen, wordonthestreetnewyork.com)
-
Carl Hedrick's mother, Joni Webster, said her son moved to Charlotte
from New York in January and planned to return this month. Webster said
he didn't know many people and was excited to meet other cyclists at a
social ride on April 30. COURTESY OF JONI WEBSTER
More Information
-
Can you help?
If you have any information about the car or its driver, police ask that you call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Cars slow down when drivers see the painted white bicycle under
the street light in south Charlotte. A pink rose rests on the handlebars
and wildflowers have been woven into the spokes.
The "ghost bike" sits along Poindexter Drive as a memorial to
cyclist Edward Carl Hedrick, 29 - everybody knew him as Carl - where he
was killed May 1 by a hit-and-run driver before dawn.
Greg Martinez, who tried desperately to wave off the car that hit
Hedrick, helped paint the bike to help Hedrick's family and friends
deal with their grief.
"It also serves as a reminder to people of what happened," he
said. "It's also a weight on the driver's conscience. If they drive by
there a lot, hopefully one day they'll fess up to what they did."
The death of Hedrick, a former New York City bike messenger, has
triggered a groundswell of support from Charlotte to New York to London -
and a call to find his killer.
His mother, Joni Webster, learned of the hit and run watching the Sunday morning news.
"My heart stopped at that point because I am at home having my
morning coffee," she said. "I know he was out on a ride. And he's not
home."
She texted Hedrick's cellphone.
"'Bicyclist hit and run....Let me know that you're good,'" she
wrote. "And then 20 minutes later the police showed up at the door."
Hedrick's death has shaken not only the biking community in
Charlotte, but also in New York, where he was well-known in the
close-knit courier community.
Last week, some 30 cyclists in New York City joined together for a
vigil and ride through the city to honor Hedrick and another cyclist
who died in a New York accident the same week.
Today, Webster and Martinez are in New York with Hedrick's bike
and some of his gear to join his New York friends on a memorial ride
across the Williamsburg Bridge.
On Friday, a similar ride is being planned in south Charlotte
near the accident site. A third will take place in London, where Hedrick
also has cyclist friends.
Edmond de Jesus, a friend and fellow New York messenger, called Hedrick an "icon" in the courier community.
"Carl was one of those guys who you would see in a distance and
say, 'Hey, there comes Carl,' and then everyone knew that fun times were
about to begin," said de Jesus.
"Iconic, because the puzzle wasn't complete without him. And now
that piece is forever gone and there is no other piece that will replace
that empty spot that Carl left. Nothing fits there."
Webster said she's been overwhelmed by the response.
"It's been a whirlwind of 'Oh my God,'" she said. "I didn't
realize he had so many friends, and I didn't know how many people cared
for him."
In a November interview with the website word on the street new york.com , Hedrick talked about the excitement of "flying through traffic."
"I like to ride my bike," he said. "I get bored with everything
else. I guess this will be another one of those stories I tell when I'm
old."
Friends find it ironic that Hedrick survived the traffic of New York City, but died on a neighborhood road in south Charlotte.
The poker run
Webster said her son had moved to Charlotte in January to save
money and planned to return to New York this month. He worked at a
Charlotte shipping company helping load overnight deliveries.
She said he didn't know many people and was excited to meet some
cyclists organizing a social biking event that Saturday evening, April
30.
Known as a poker run, the ride coincided with Charlotte's
two-week series of events to promote bike awareness but was not an
official part of the festivities.
The poker run involved cyclists riding to different bars where
they picked up playing cards and drank. At the end of the event, the
riders compared their cards and the one with the best poker hand won.
After the event, Hedrick joined some riders at an after-hours party
where he was seen with a wrench working on his bike.
By the time he had reached Poindexter Drive, Hedrick had been out
all night. He was not wearing a helmet, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
police report doesn't say whether alcohol was a factor in his falling
from his bike. The report says Hedrick had some bike trouble and ended
up falling.
Hedrick's friends tried to help him to his feet, but they say Hedrick was dazed from hitting his head.
It was still dark. A car was approaching. Martinez said the
riders tried to wave it off. He even held up Hedrick's silver bicycle
with reflectors to get the driver's attention.
Poindexter Drive is a popular cut-through between Park Road and
South Boulevard. It's lined with speed bumps. Police said the driver had
enough time and light to see the riders and stop.
"They didn't stop, man," Martinez said. "They never hit the brakes. Not even a tap."
Police said they're still searching for the driver of a light
blue or silver sedan, possibly a Toyota Corolla or Tercel, with damage
underneath. Several hours after receiving the news from the police,
Webster posted a short message on her son's Facebook page. Within hours,
she was receiving dozens of messages from friends and cyclists in New
York and London who were already planning the commemorative events.
Webster said she hopes the rides will also help find the person responsible.
"After so much time goes by, we may never find this person," she
said. "I don't want this to happen. The person who is responsible needs
to be held accountable."
From Charlotte Velo
On May 1, 2011. Edward Carl Hedrick III was killed by a hit-and-run
driver. The crash occurred just before sunrise at 6am under the tree
canopy of Poindexter Drive near Lawndale. Please help police find the
driver and his silver or light-blue Tercel or Corolla - likely with
minor damage to the front end and undercarriage. Carl was riding in a
small group when he fell off his bike. The driver hit Carl as he lay in
the road and fled the scene.
-
Carl's ghost bike
As usual for cases involving a fatality, no crash report was published by CMPD.
While the Observer claimed Carl was from Charlotte, word from his new
friends is that Carl was a bike messenger visiting from Brooklyn, NY.
Carl's Ghost Bike
Poindexter is a neighborhood street with a 25 mph speed limit and
speed bumps. The driver was heading north to South Blvd. Using
Poindexter as a cut-through to South Blvd has good access to I-77 South
via Remount Rd (only I-77 South.). I hope security cameras from the ATM
or the Shell station provide clues.
Carl's friends and family have my most sincere condolences, including his new friends present at the crash.