BARTLETT — The elderly woman who police say struck and killed bicyclist Richard Devellian, 83, of Jackson with her SUV on Route 16 just north of the Intervale Scenic Vista last spring has been indicted on a charge of negligent homicide.
A Carroll County grand jury handed up the Class B felony indictment against Jean Melczarek, 88, of Bartlett in the second week of October.
I don't know all the facts, but enough to know this is a tragedy. As a frequent cyclist in the area, I have been honked off the road, cursed at, spit upon and generally abused for something that folks should be happy to see me doing. I am sure that the driver here is mortified, and there's not much benefit to the dead cyclist to putting her in jail.
Lesson to everyone - slow down and smell the roses. Treat driving like pilots teach flying. No drinking or texting and maybe, just maybe, obey that speed limit.
Bill Scott, As a bicyclist myself I have to report that I have never been abused on the road by anyone, ever. Why? Because I ride facing the oncoming traffic and I stay out of everyone else's way. It is not everyone else's responsibility to look out for me, that is my responsibility regardless of any mis guided law about riding right. As everyone should know by now and because of this unfortunate incident and many. many others just like it. Not being to be able to know what is happening behind you can kill you. The fantasy about bicycles being able to ride right with traffic is broken and is going to be changed because of these deaths. Stop blaming everyone else for your refusal to place yourself in a defensive position that could save your life .No one is going to slow down or stop being old. Things happen on the road and as long as bicyclists ride right they are going to continue to be "Struck from behind." It's unnecessary.
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I don't know all the facts, but enough to know this is a tragedy. As a frequent cyclist in the area, I have been honked off the road, cursed at, spit upon and generally abused for something that folks should be happy to see me doing. I am sure that the driver here is mortified, and there's not much benefit to the dead cyclist to putting her in jail.
Lesson to everyone - slow down and smell the roses. Treat driving like pilots teach flying. No drinking or texting and maybe, just maybe, obey that speed limit.
Bill Scott, As a bicyclist myself I have to report that I have never been abused on the road by anyone, ever. Why? Because I ride facing the oncoming traffic and I stay out of everyone else's way. It is not everyone else's responsibility to look out for me, that is my responsibility regardless of any mis guided law about riding right. As everyone should know by now and because of this unfortunate incident and many. many others just like it. Not being to be able to know what is happening behind you can kill you. The fantasy about bicycles being able to ride right with traffic is broken and is going to be changed because of these deaths. Stop blaming everyone else for your refusal to place yourself in a defensive position that could save your life .No one is going to slow down or stop being old. Things happen on the road and as long as bicyclists ride right they are going to continue to be "Struck from behind." It's unnecessary.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.