Tracey Anne Kleinpell
Tracey Anne Kleinpell
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Age: 46
Location:
Sanibel Island Causeway
Fort Meyers , FL
United States
Tracey was killed when riding with her husband on the Sanibel causeway, she was hit so hard that she tumbled over the guardrail and into the water. The driver was brought to court but the prosecution found not enough evidence to charge her with vehicular manslaughter, instead she paid a fine, though friends and family confronted her.
This video was made in Tracey's memory, there is also a memorial website and a memorial facebook page.
This ghost bike has since been removed by the county, and is also mapped on waymarking
According to her obituary
Tracey
was born May 3, 1965, in New London. She was the youngest daughter of
Donna and George Henault. She graduated from Waterford High School and
attended Central Connecticut State University. Tracey graduated from the
New England Deaconess School of Nursing in Boston in 1989, and was in
the top 10 in her class. In 1996, she earned her bachelor's degree in
health care administration from Barry University in Miami, Fla. She
worked as a registered nurse, was a certified diabetes educator, and
began her career at Lee Memorial Hospital's Diabetes Treatment Center.
She later worked at Nemours Childrens Clinic helping children with
diabetes and other endocrine disorders. She really loved diabetes
education and was an accomplished public speaker. Most recently she was
employed at Merck Medco as an RN educator. She taught new onset
diabetics how to test their blood sugars, modify diet, manage the
disease, and minimize its complications.
Tracey's other love was
fitness. An avid athlete and marathon runner, she was also a certified
personal trainer and was also certified in Zumba and spinning. She
worked for the Cape Coral Wellness Center and had recently worked at
Gateway Fitness Center and Fitness on the Move on Metro Parkway. -
More on the crash from the News-Press
46-year-old, experienced bicyclist died Saturday after being struck
by a truck on the Sanibel Causeway and sent into the water below.
Tracey
A. Kleinpell, of Fort Myers, was riding on the shoulder with her
husband, Gordon, toward Sanibel Island. Coming from the opposite
direction was a full-size truck driven by Theresa L. Shirley, 46, of
Bokeelia.
“For some reason or another, the vehicle drifted
over into the other lane,” said Sgt. Owen Keen of the Florida Highway
Patrol. “The truck just missed the husband, but struck the wife behind
him.”
The impact sent Kleinpell over the waist-high
guardrails and into San Carlos Bay. Passing boaters retrieved Kleinpell
and brought her to shore, where former Marine T.J. Liberty performed CPR
until paramedics arrived.
Medical crews pronounced Kleinpell dead at the scene.
It’s not yet known whether impact from the collision with the vehicle or water caused Kleinpell’s death.
Kleinpell
was a fitness instructor and an avid bicyclist and runner. The causeway
ride was one the Kleinpells, who celebrated their 10th anniversary
April 21, made almost every weekend.
Friend Nancy Ranke said Kleinpell was always optimistic, and touched thousands of lives.
“She was a true angel,” Ranke said. “She was a beautiful person.”
Kleinpell
graduated from Waterford High School in Waterford, Conn., the New
England Deaconess School of Nursing in Boston. and Barry University in
Miami. She worked locally as a registered nurse and certified diabetes
educator.
Bike and pedestrian advocate Dan Moser said cyclists are permitted on all area bridges except the Caloosahatchee Bridge.
The causeway’s shoulder is 8 feet wide, he said, and the ride is more strenuous than dangerous.
“If motorists are paying attention, it’s pretty safe,” Moser said.
Kleinpell
not only rode in Southwest Florida, but brother-in-law Jonathan Peck
said she also pedaled on tours throughout Europe. Peck believes
Kleinpell’s legacy will be her ability to connect with everyone on a
personal basis.
“She was the sweetest person in the world,” Peck said. “She was everybody’s best friend, and she had a million of them.”
No charges have been filed in Saturday’s accident, but the Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
Ranke
and Moser said the freak accident won’t keep them from riding the
causeway. For Liberty, there just is no reasonable explanation.
“It’s one of those things,” he said. “Someone’s mother is not going to be there tomorrow.”
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Age: 46
Location:
Sanibel Island Causeway
Fort Meyers , FL
United States
Tracey was killed when riding with her husband on the Sanibel causeway, she was hit so hard that she tumbled over the guardrail and into the water. The driver was brought to court but the prosecution found not enough evidence to charge her with vehicular manslaughter, instead she paid a fine, though friends and family confronted her.
This video was made in Tracey's memory, there is also a memorial website and a memorial facebook page.
This ghost bike has since been removed by the county, and is also mapped on waymarking
According to her obituary
Tracey
was born May 3, 1965, in New London. She was the youngest daughter of
Donna and George Henault. She graduated from Waterford High School and
attended Central Connecticut State University. Tracey graduated from the
New England Deaconess School of Nursing in Boston in 1989, and was in
the top 10 in her class. In 1996, she earned her bachelor's degree in
health care administration from Barry University in Miami, Fla. She
worked as a registered nurse, was a certified diabetes educator, and
began her career at Lee Memorial Hospital's Diabetes Treatment Center.
She later worked at Nemours Childrens Clinic helping children with
diabetes and other endocrine disorders. She really loved diabetes
education and was an accomplished public speaker. Most recently she was
employed at Merck Medco as an RN educator. She taught new onset
diabetics how to test their blood sugars, modify diet, manage the
disease, and minimize its complications.
Tracey's other love was
fitness. An avid athlete and marathon runner, she was also a certified
personal trainer and was also certified in Zumba and spinning. She
worked for the Cape Coral Wellness Center and had recently worked at
Gateway Fitness Center and Fitness on the Move on Metro Parkway. -
More on the crash from the News-Press
46-year-old, experienced bicyclist died Saturday after being struck
by a truck on the Sanibel Causeway and sent into the water below.
Tracey
A. Kleinpell, of Fort Myers, was riding on the shoulder with her
husband, Gordon, toward Sanibel Island. Coming from the opposite
direction was a full-size truck driven by Theresa L. Shirley, 46, of
Bokeelia.
“For some reason or another, the vehicle drifted
over into the other lane,” said Sgt. Owen Keen of the Florida Highway
Patrol. “The truck just missed the husband, but struck the wife behind
him.”
The impact sent Kleinpell over the waist-high
guardrails and into San Carlos Bay. Passing boaters retrieved Kleinpell
and brought her to shore, where former Marine T.J. Liberty performed CPR
until paramedics arrived.
Medical crews pronounced Kleinpell dead at the scene.
It’s not yet known whether impact from the collision with the vehicle or water caused Kleinpell’s death.
Kleinpell
was a fitness instructor and an avid bicyclist and runner. The causeway
ride was one the Kleinpells, who celebrated their 10th anniversary
April 21, made almost every weekend.
Friend Nancy Ranke said Kleinpell was always optimistic, and touched thousands of lives.
“She was a true angel,” Ranke said. “She was a beautiful person.”
Kleinpell
graduated from Waterford High School in Waterford, Conn., the New
England Deaconess School of Nursing in Boston. and Barry University in
Miami. She worked locally as a registered nurse and certified diabetes
educator.
Bike and pedestrian advocate Dan Moser said cyclists are permitted on all area bridges except the Caloosahatchee Bridge.
The causeway’s shoulder is 8 feet wide, he said, and the ride is more strenuous than dangerous.
“If motorists are paying attention, it’s pretty safe,” Moser said.
Kleinpell
not only rode in Southwest Florida, but brother-in-law Jonathan Peck
said she also pedaled on tours throughout Europe. Peck believes
Kleinpell’s legacy will be her ability to connect with everyone on a
personal basis.
“She was the sweetest person in the world,” Peck said. “She was everybody’s best friend, and she had a million of them.”
No charges have been filed in Saturday’s accident, but the Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
Ranke
and Moser said the freak accident won’t keep them from riding the
causeway. For Liberty, there just is no reasonable explanation.
“It’s one of those things,” he said. “Someone’s mother is not going to be there tomorrow.”