Sad news, everyone.

One of the three cyclists who were taken the hospital after a pickup truck ran into them last night on a rural road outside Hillsboro has died.

Twenty-three year old Vancouverite Diego Reyes passed this morning at Legacy Emanuel hospital. Courtney Acosta-Grates, 30, is still in the hospital with critical injuries. Melanie Diaz was treated and released.

The trio of cyclists were biking along NW Union Road near North Plains last night when a pickup truck driven by 30-year-old Aaron Hughes hit them from behind. The Washington County Sheriff says Hughes was not drunk and had no signs of impairment, but that Reyes, Grates, and Diaz did not have lights on their bikes. None of the three were wearing helmets, which aren’t required in Oregon but, as this intense PSA released today spells out, can help keep brains safe.

Bicycle Transportation Alliance Executive Director Rob Sadowsky notes that there have been a series of serious bike-car crashes in recent weeks: A teen killed by a pickup truck in Bend, another by a hit and run in Clackamas, and then former pro football player Joey Harrington was hit in East Portland over the weekend.

“First off, I’m just frustrated with the sheer number of crashes in the past two weeks. It’s been sobering,” says Sadowsky. “It’s been a reminder for us as drivers of cars and riders of bikes to stay predictable, stay lit, and be aware of others in the roadway.”

Many condolences to Reyes’ family.

Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.

6 replies on “Update on Last Night’s Bike/Car Crash: 23-Year-Old Died”

  2. OK, the cyclists weren’t using lights apparently but did they have rear reflectors? In Oregon, a front white light and red rear light OR reflector is the minimum requirement. While riding w/out a white light on front is technically violating the law, for a collision from the rear it would be whether or not there were reflectors which would be a factor in driver responsibility for the crash.

    If you are driving a car at night and don’t see those bright red reflectors in the headlight beams, it means that either (1) you are going way too fast, or (2) your vision or attention to the road is so poor that you should not be driving in the first place.

  3. I’m sorry for the families loss, as well as for the driver.

    I think blaming the driver may be wrong here though.

    I have a bright red light for the rear of my bike and would hope everyone would see the need for it too.

  4. I’m not sure what the story here is. The KGW article describes five people, who may or may not have been riding bikes: the “victim,” an 81 yr old “experienced cyclist,” his 47 yr old son, then Reyes (who apparently is the one who died at Emanuel), Acosta-Grates, and Diaz, all three of whom are described as 30 or younger… This is a little confusing. Were the 81 year old and 47 year old the ones in the truck? And if so, why was the older of the two described in the article as “the victim”? What exactly happened, and who was involved?

  5. Thank you for always reminding folks how dangerous riding a bicycle is.

    Anytime I think of this I get into an SUV to make short trips around town.

    Anytime I want to ride my bike I get into an SUV and go ride it somewhere without cars.

    Please do not do this with the dangers of cats, I would miss them and Alison.

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