Bicyclist killed at Damen and Wellington

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Permalink Reply by Barry on October 22, 2009 at 11:14am

Liza was a retail employee of Metropolis Coffee Company on Granville. Thought I would share this memorial message they sent out to their subscribers.

Liza Whitacre

Liza Whitacre died yesterday. She lived more in 20 years than anyone that I have ever known. Her approach to being was so simple - love it, whatever it is. That, for Liza, was so many things. Coffee, biking, friendship, school, figure skating... She meant the world to us, and we will never forget her strong and positive impact on each and everyone of us. She radiated, she beamed, she rubbed off that pixie glow on everyone that she came across.

Many of you know Liza. We are collecting cards, memories, photos, and stories at the cafe. If you would like to leave a card, I am sure that her family will really appreciate it.

Thank you for understanding, and for being kind during this time - our crew is reeling and grieving, and we may require a little patience.

Here is a recent photo of Liza - she had just gotten a tattoo of a coffee tree. The image of the tree came from Dr. Illy's book on coffee - an incredibly scientific, long winded, and difficult book to grasp. Liza read it in 2 days.

We miss you, Liza

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on October 22, 2009 at 3:32pm

Even though this is painfully sad to read; thanks for sharing more about Liza.

When my good friend lost his 16-year old daughter in a tragic car accident; the only words
he could mutter at her memorial service before he totally lost it were "the tragedy of life is
not dying; but rather not living".

sounds like Liza was a great example of this.

my thoughts and condolonces to all her friends, co-workers and family.

Dan


Barry said:

Liza was a retail employee of Metropolis Coffee Company on Granville. Thought I would share this memorial message they sent out to their subscribers.

Liza Whitacre

Liza Whitacre died yesterday. She lived more in 20 years than anyone that I have ever known. Her approach to being was so simple - love it, whatever it is. That, for Liza, was so many things. Coffee, biking, friendship, school, figure skating... She meant the world to us, and we will never forget her strong and positive impact on each and everyone of us. She radiated, she beamed, she rubbed off that pixie glow on everyone that she came across.

Many of you know Liza. We are collecting cards, memories, photos, and stories at the cafe. If you would like to leave a card, I am sure that her family will really appreciate it.

Thank you for understanding, and for being kind during this time - our crew is reeling and grieving, and we may require a little patience.

Here is a recent photo of Liza - she had just gotten a tattoo of a coffee tree. The image of the tree came from Dr. Illy's book on coffee - an incredibly scientific, long winded, and difficult book to grasp. Liza read it in 2 days.

We miss you, Liza

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Permalink Reply by Joe TV on October 22, 2009 at 7:40pm

From Liza's remembrance in the Tribune:

Loyola University student Liza Whitacre loved life -- especially one where she could roam freely through Chicago's streets on a bicycle. But a freak accident ended her life on Wednesday as she and her roommate rode their bikes through the Lakeview neighborhood.

Whitacre, of the 4900 block of North Winthrop Avenue, fell from her bike, landed underneath a truck and was run over by the vehicle outside Hamlin Park on Damen and Wellington Avenues. Police said she was trying to pass between the truck and a CTA bus when she fell off her bike.

Chicago police today said no citations would likely be issued against the driver of the truck. After the accident at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Officer John Mirabelli, a police spokesman said, "The truck driver was apparently unaware that the woman had fallen underneath."

Whitacre was pronounced dead at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

"She rode her bike everywhere. She loved riding her bike," said Tony Dreyfuss, Whitacre's boss at the Metropolis Coffee Company, 1039 W. Granville Ave., where she worked.

Dreyfuss said Whitacre participated in Critical Mass, a monthly biking event that draws up to 3,000 cyclists who ride through Chicago's streets. But Dreyfuss, who has ridden with Whitacre, described her as a careful rider who wouldn't dart into traffic or travel in between moving cars.

Also:

A wake is scheduled for Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Loyola's Madonna della Strada Chapel, 6525 N. Sheridan Rd. Her funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Willow Creek Community Church, 67 E. Algonquin Rd., South Barrington.

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Permalink Reply by Brenda O'Connor on October 22, 2009 at 9:52pm

I live three blocks form here. I always cut over to Ravenswood or Honore as soon as possible after Damen/Diversey/Clybourn. People do drive like nuts here. They get bottle necked by Damen/Fullerton/Elston and race over the bridge. They are still accelerator happy at Wellington. My condolences to her friends and family

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on October 22, 2009 at 9:54pm

Thanks for posting that info, Joe.

Joe TV said:

From Liza's remembrance in the Tribune:

Loyola University student Liza Whitacre loved life -- especially one where she could roam freely through Chicago's streets on a bicycle. But a freak accident ended her life on Wednesday as she and her roommate rode their bikes through the Lakeview neighborhood.

Whitacre, of the 4900 block of North Winthrop Avenue, fell from her bike, landed underneath a truck and was run over by the vehicle outside Hamlin Park on Damen and Wellington Avenues. Police said she was trying to pass between the truck and a CTA bus when she fell off her bike.

Chicago police today said no citations would likely be issued against the driver of the truck. After the accident at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Officer John Mirabelli, a police spokesman said, "The truck driver was apparently unaware that the woman had fallen underneath."

Whitacre was pronounced dead at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

"She rode her bike everywhere. She loved riding her bike," said Tony Dreyfuss, Whitacre's boss at the Metropolis Coffee Company, 1039 W. Granville Ave., where she worked.

Dreyfuss said Whitacre participated in Critical Mass, a monthly biking event that draws up to 3,000 cyclists who ride through Chicago's streets. But Dreyfuss, who has ridden with Whitacre, described her as a careful rider who wouldn't dart into traffic or travel in between moving cars.

Also:

A wake is scheduled for Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Loyola's Madonna della Strada Chapel, 6525 N. Sheridan Rd. Her funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Willow Creek Community Church, 67 E. Algonquin Rd., South Barrington.

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Permalink Reply by DavID on October 22, 2009 at 11:25pm

My condolences, Rest in Paradise Liza. What a reminder of mortality, everyone be safe out there!!!

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Permalink Reply by Alan Matejka on October 22, 2009 at 11:57pm

Such a beautiful person lost. Please, Cyclists, Take the side streets. There are so many alternatives to the main streets. Wolcott or Hoyne would have been such a safer alternative. Our computers have the capability of close up views of our streets. Your routes can be so much less dangerous, If planned better. Please take the side streets when ever possible. I have been in both situations, I have been hit recently. I was lucky enough to not been injured. The driver absolutly had no intention of hurting me. I was not paying enough attention to my Lane usage. It was dark. Shit happened. 30 years ago I was the driver. The cyclist was not hurt (so lucky) She let it go as (shit happens). I let the lady that hit me go.(shit happens) (payback). Yes I have a bent bike now, But I could have prevented it too. Life is fragile. Take the side streets where never possible. Stay safe. I have the capability of fixing my bike too. I ride extras for now. Our economy is changing enough to persuade motorists to try our alternative. Lets be friendly to them. Gentle persuasion should be the way. You can never have enough friends. Alan

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on October 23, 2009 at 8:49am

Clark said:

If you fall off your bike more than once every couple years, you're probably not a good enough bike handler to ride in Chicago traffic. You gotta stay on that bike, no matter what.

Clark said:

As Critical Mass has taught us, the more bicycles on the road, the safer for all of us. This is not the time to disappear from the fastest streets in the City.

One post you tell everyone but the most uberskilled cyclists to stay off the road, the next you urge as many cyclists as possible on the road. Which is it? ;)

BTW, that was a nice eulogy in the Trib. My condolences to her family and friends
Frank

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Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on October 23, 2009 at 8:50am

So who is up for a ride to her wake today?

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Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on October 23, 2009 at 12:27pm

I've been somewhat bothered by the accounts I've read of how this incident happened. From what I've read she was going around a CTA bus which had stopped along the right side of the road. The law allows her to have done so. She then "slipped" and fell off her bike and under the truck. That just doesn't sit right with me. She was an experienced cyclist and she just suddenly slipped? Why? Someone else here suggested that she was probably "squeezed" by the truck. I am guessing that she was. I am guessing the truck driver did not give her the three feet of space the law requires. It wouldn't surprise me either if a part of the truck actually struck her or her bike. This is complete supposition on my part, but as I said the accounts I've read just don't sit right with me. The tone of much of the reporting has been that this was Liza's fault some how. Nothing I've read suggests to me that that was the case.

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on October 23, 2009 at 12:30pm

i wasn't there, so i cannot know for certain, BUT more likely the bus pulled out as she was passing. Bus drivers seldom look. Just my 2 cents and years of experience...

Chicago Bicycle Advocate said:

I've been some what bothered by the accounts I've read of how this incident happened. From what I've read she was going around a CTA bus which had stopped along the right side of the road. The law allows her to have done so. She then "slipped" and fell off her bike and under the truck. That just doesn't sit right with me. She was an experienced cyclist and she just suddenly slipped? Why? Someone else here suggested that she was probably "squeezed" by the truck. I am guessing that she was. I am guessing the truck driver did not give her the three feet of space the law requires. It wouldn't surprise me either if a part of the truck actually struck her or her bike. This is complete supposition on my part, but as I said the accounts I've read just don't sit right with me. The tone of much of the reporting has been that this was Liza's fault some how. Nothing I've read suggests to me that that was the case.

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Permalink Reply by heather s on October 23, 2009 at 2:11pm

Was the truck going in the same direction (also passing the bus on the left), or coming from the opposite direction?

mike w. said:

i wasn't there, so i cannot know for certain, BUT more likely the bus pulled out as she was passing. Bus drivers seldom look. Just my 2 cents and years of experience...

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