Heinz Duerkop
Heinz Duerkop
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Age: 67
Location:
George Dieter Drive at Pocahontas Place
El Paso , TX
United States
'Ghost bike' honors memory of hit-run victim
By Pink Rivera / El Paso Times
Posted: 11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM MST
(Victor Calzada / El Paso Times)
EL PASO -- The site where an East Side cyclist was struck and
killed by a hit-and-run driver now has a permanent reminder of the
tragedy. The "ghost bike" memorial on George Dieter Drive commemorates the loss of Heinz Duerkop, an avid cyclist who died June 21.
Ghost bikes are memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on
the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign
near the crash site, accompanied by a small, engraved plaque. The bikes
serve as reminders of fatal cycling accidents and as statements in
support of cyclists' right to safe travel.
The memorial was approved by the city with the help of District 5 Rep. Rachel Quintana.
Duerkop, 67, was killed while riding his bicycle a few blocks from
his home in the 11200 block of Thunder Cloud Drive. He was riding south
on George Dieter when he was struck by an unknown vehicle, throwing him
from his bike into the intersection at Pocahontas Place and George
Dieter. He died of his injuries at the scene.
"Many months may have passed since that one Sunday morning,"
said Sal Soto, who made the ghost bike a reality with the help of
friends. "But there is not one day that he is not remembered, not only
by his loving wife Margot, but by someone else whose life Heinz
touched."
Duerkop and his wife, Margot, came to El Paso from Germany. They
regularly rode their bicycles together. The couple were remembered by
their neighbors for always being together at parties and on trips.
"Heinz was always around with cheers and very talkative at our
neighborhood parties," said Jerry Fulton. "You knew when he was there
and everybody liked him and his wife. They were always together. She
went wherever he went, and he went wherever she went."
On the morning of the tragedy, Margot Duerkop said, she overslept, so her husband went riding alone.
"He loved riding his bicycle," she said. "I slept in that morning
and it was just coincidence that he was hit the only day he went alone
because normally we would ride together. I want (the memorial) to be a
reminder for the person who hit my husband. I'm sure they pass through
here every day, and I want them to see it and hopefully admit to what
they did."
Quintana said the memorial would serve as an incentive for
anyone who was involved or who saw the accident to come forward and
also to remind drivers to be cautious and aware of cyclists. "This touches my heart," Quintana said. "It's something that's
nice for the city and to present to the neighbors and family, but at
the same time, we don't want to see more. It's a way to honor Mr.
Duerkop and was an idea made possible because of the love from his
friends and family."
Duerkop volunteered at Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site
for more than a decade. He was retired from the German air force at
Fort Bliss.
The death was listed as the Crime Stoppers crime of the week in
August. Police are asking anyone who has any information about the
crime to call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 566-TIPS (8477) or submit
the tip online. Anyone providing information will remain anonymous and,
if the tip leads to an arrest, there is a cash reward of up to $1,000. Pink Rivera may be reached at privera@elpasotimes.com; 546-6156
A video of the memorial ceremony at the ghost bike is viewable on YouTube.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Age: 67
Location:
George Dieter Drive at Pocahontas Place
El Paso , TX
United States
'Ghost bike' honors memory of hit-run victim
By Pink Rivera / El Paso Times
Posted: 11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM MST
(Victor Calzada / El Paso Times)
EL PASO -- The site where an East Side cyclist was struck and
killed by a hit-and-run driver now has a permanent reminder of the
tragedy. The "ghost bike" memorial on George Dieter Drive commemorates the loss of Heinz Duerkop, an avid cyclist who died June 21.
Ghost bikes are memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on
the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign
near the crash site, accompanied by a small, engraved plaque. The bikes
serve as reminders of fatal cycling accidents and as statements in
support of cyclists' right to safe travel.
The memorial was approved by the city with the help of District 5 Rep. Rachel Quintana.
Duerkop, 67, was killed while riding his bicycle a few blocks from
his home in the 11200 block of Thunder Cloud Drive. He was riding south
on George Dieter when he was struck by an unknown vehicle, throwing him
from his bike into the intersection at Pocahontas Place and George
Dieter. He died of his injuries at the scene.
"Many months may have passed since that one Sunday morning,"
said Sal Soto, who made the ghost bike a reality with the help of
friends. "But there is not one day that he is not remembered, not only
by his loving wife Margot, but by someone else whose life Heinz
touched."
Duerkop and his wife, Margot, came to El Paso from Germany. They
regularly rode their bicycles together. The couple were remembered by
their neighbors for always being together at parties and on trips.
"Heinz was always around with cheers and very talkative at our
neighborhood parties," said Jerry Fulton. "You knew when he was there
and everybody liked him and his wife. They were always together. She
went wherever he went, and he went wherever she went."
On the morning of the tragedy, Margot Duerkop said, she overslept, so her husband went riding alone.
"He loved riding his bicycle," she said. "I slept in that morning
and it was just coincidence that he was hit the only day he went alone
because normally we would ride together. I want (the memorial) to be a
reminder for the person who hit my husband. I'm sure they pass through
here every day, and I want them to see it and hopefully admit to what
they did."
Quintana said the memorial would serve as an incentive for
anyone who was involved or who saw the accident to come forward and
also to remind drivers to be cautious and aware of cyclists. "This touches my heart," Quintana said. "It's something that's
nice for the city and to present to the neighbors and family, but at
the same time, we don't want to see more. It's a way to honor Mr.
Duerkop and was an idea made possible because of the love from his
friends and family."
Duerkop volunteered at Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site
for more than a decade. He was retired from the German air force at
Fort Bliss.
The death was listed as the Crime Stoppers crime of the week in
August. Police are asking anyone who has any information about the
crime to call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 566-TIPS (8477) or submit
the tip online. Anyone providing information will remain anonymous and,
if the tip leads to an arrest, there is a cash reward of up to $1,000. Pink Rivera may be reached at privera@elpasotimes.com; 546-6156
A video of the memorial ceremony at the ghost bike is viewable on YouTube.