Cyclist falls in roadway; then fatally struck by passing motorist

Wed, 8/27/2014 ~ 2030. Cyclist 69-year-old Andrew Yearby.  In the area of 43rd Avenue and Crittenden Lane, Phoenix. This was initially investigated as hit and run, however police now believe the man fell in the roadway for unrelated/unknown reasons; and was subsequently run over by the driver of a Toyota Camry.

Update: Bicyclist hit, killed in Phoenix
KTVK 3TV PHOENIX — Phoenix police are investigating after a bicyclist was killed Wednesday night. It happened in the area of 43rd Avenue and Crittenden Lane, which is just north of Osborn Road. Police originally reported it was a hit-and-run, but on Thursday morning Sgt. Tommy Thompson said further investigation did not find evidence of that. Thompson said a driver saw a man lying in the roadway at about 8:30 p.m. and swerved to avoid hitting him. The driver stopped to check on the man and as he exited his vehicle, a Toyota Camry also attempted to avoid the man but ran over him. The 20-year-old Toyota driver stopped and remained at the scene. He and his 19-year-old female passenger were not injured. The 69-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives have not been able to notify his next of kin. Thompson said there was a bicycle near the victim with damage indicating the rear tire had been run over by a vehicle, but there was no evidence in the roadway or witnesses to support a prior hit-and-run collision, as initially reported. Investigators said the victim may have been riding and crashed or fallen off his bicycle and was getting up when he was hit by the Toyota, which may have also run over the tire of the bike. Thompson said the driver of the Toyota was evaluated and there was no signs of impairment. Thompson said there may be additional witnesses who left the scene and could not be located and interviewed. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151. . @phoenixpolice working fatal Hit&run collision at 43ave & Crittendon. Suspect fled in a dark Jeep type vehicle. Anyone w/info 480-WITNESS — Steve Martos (@SgtMartos)

Here’s a more recent news article:

PHOENIX – There are still a lot of questions in last week’s deadly bicycle accident. Andrew Yearby, 69, was run over by a car in Phoenix last Wednesday night. His daughter from Northern California said she is about to head to Phoenix to bury her father and she wants answers. Police said the retired welder was lying in the street on 43rd Avenue near Crittenden Lane after somehow crashing on his bike when he was fatally run over. “I lost my father,” Connie Yearby said. “I lost my friend. I lost another part of me.” Yearby said her father was on his bike that night because he had just given up his car so he would use his bicycle more. “He wanted to exercise more,” she said. “He wanted to stay healthy.” Police said the driver of the Toyota Camry that fatally hit Yearby did stop and was not impaired. But they believe that there may be more witnesses who left the scene who may have crucial information as to how Yearby ended up lying in the street in the first place. “My dad was not trash, you left him out there like he was trash,” Connie Yearby said.  — azfamily.com

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