Patrick Sawyer
Patrick Sawyer
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Age: 40
Location:
Cleveland Road near Swanson Drive
Clay Township
South Bend , IN
United States
On July 16, 2008 Patrick Sawyer was struck by a vehicle on Cleveland Road near Swanson Drive in Clay Township.
He died on July 21.
His wife, Nancy set up a memrial website chronicling his accident, death, her grief and bicycle safety awareness:
More details on her advocacy are in the article below:
Wife of hit-and-run victim determined to turn tragedy into awareness
Originally printed at http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/27078814.html
SOUTH
BEND -- It's been one month since Patrick Sawyer was hit by a car while
riding his bike on Cleveland Road in South Bend. Sawyer died from his
injuries five days later.
Twenty-one-year-old Shane
McGee left the scene, but turned himself in the next day. On Friday,
McGee pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of the crash and to driving
drunk.
Patrick's wife, Nancy, was in court Friday,
hoping to get some answers. Shane McGee admitted he was at a party and
had been drinking the night before the accident. While this gives Nancy
some peace, she says her work is far from over.
Nancy Sawyer says it's hard to believe it's been a month since her husband passed away.
"I've been going through such a nightmare of grief," she said.
Patrick
was riding his bike on Cleveland Road when he was hit by a car. The
driver never stopped. And this past Friday, Nancy spoke to him for the
first time.
"I just introduced myself and said, 'It's
too bad we're meeting under these circumstances.' And I introduced
myself to his mother. And his mother had tears in her eyes and so I
hugged her. And by that time I had tears in my eyes. And he looked very
somber and just kind of whispered, 'I'm sorry,'" said Sawyer.
Speaking to her husband's admitted killer helps give Nancy some peace. But she says he's not her focus.
"I can't let this ruin mine or my kids' lives. And I need, especially for their sake, good to come of it,” said Sawyer.
Her goal now is to raise awareness about bike safety.
"This
is an issue close to home for every one of us because we all use the
roads. Cyclists need a safe place to get to work or school or wherever
we're going," said Sawyer.
Nancy's goal doesn't end
there. She also hopes her husband's death will make people realize the
potentially deadly consequences of drunk driving.
"Everyone
needs to know that right away. That it's a huge, huge risk you are
taking for yourself or for a stranger,” said Sawyer.
Shane McGee is scheduled to be sentenced October 1. He could receive a maximum of 16 years in prison.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Age: 40
Location:
Cleveland Road near Swanson Drive
Clay Township
South Bend , IN
United States
On July 16, 2008 Patrick Sawyer was struck by a vehicle on Cleveland Road near Swanson Drive in Clay Township.
He died on July 21.
His wife, Nancy set up a memrial website chronicling his accident, death, her grief and bicycle safety awareness:
More details on her advocacy are in the article below:
Wife of hit-and-run victim determined to turn tragedy into awareness
Originally printed at http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/27078814.html
SOUTH
BEND -- It's been one month since Patrick Sawyer was hit by a car while
riding his bike on Cleveland Road in South Bend. Sawyer died from his
injuries five days later.
Twenty-one-year-old Shane
McGee left the scene, but turned himself in the next day. On Friday,
McGee pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of the crash and to driving
drunk.
Patrick's wife, Nancy, was in court Friday,
hoping to get some answers. Shane McGee admitted he was at a party and
had been drinking the night before the accident. While this gives Nancy
some peace, she says her work is far from over.
Nancy Sawyer says it's hard to believe it's been a month since her husband passed away.
"I've been going through such a nightmare of grief," she said.
Patrick
was riding his bike on Cleveland Road when he was hit by a car. The
driver never stopped. And this past Friday, Nancy spoke to him for the
first time.
"I just introduced myself and said, 'It's
too bad we're meeting under these circumstances.' And I introduced
myself to his mother. And his mother had tears in her eyes and so I
hugged her. And by that time I had tears in my eyes. And he looked very
somber and just kind of whispered, 'I'm sorry,'" said Sawyer.
Speaking to her husband's admitted killer helps give Nancy some peace. But she says he's not her focus.
"I can't let this ruin mine or my kids' lives. And I need, especially for their sake, good to come of it,” said Sawyer.
Her goal now is to raise awareness about bike safety.
"This
is an issue close to home for every one of us because we all use the
roads. Cyclists need a safe place to get to work or school or wherever
we're going," said Sawyer.
Nancy's goal doesn't end
there. She also hopes her husband's death will make people realize the
potentially deadly consequences of drunk driving.
"Everyone
needs to know that right away. That it's a huge, huge risk you are
taking for yourself or for a stranger,” said Sawyer.
Shane McGee is scheduled to be sentenced October 1. He could receive a maximum of 16 years in prison.