On Tuesday, Oct. 22 at approximately 1:55 p.m. a Lincoln City police officer observed a woman lying in the street next to an electric bicycle at the intersection of Southwest Ninth Street and U.S. Highway 101. The officer began to render assistance as 911 calls about the incident were being received. North Lincoln Fire & Rescue and Pacific West Ambulance personnel also responded, however, 47-year-old Danielle Wolff of Lincoln City ultimately succumbed to her injuries and died at the scene.
An initial investigation determined that Wolff had been driving her electric bike southbound on the sidewalk on the east side of the highway. She applied her brakes abruptly as she came upon a stopped vehicle at the intersection of Southeast Ninth Street and ended up falling into the road. The driver of the stopped vehicle commenced a right-hand turn without seeing Wolff on the pavement, striking her, but then immediately pulled to the side of the road and called 911 to summon assistance. The driver has fully cooperated with the investigation of the incident.
During the scene investigation, traffic was diverted down to two lanes for approximately four hours, while members of the Lincoln County Multi-Agency Crash Team, representing each of the law enforcement agencies in the county, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation, assisted with the investigation, which is currently on-going. No charges have been filed at this time.
Unfortunately, Wolff was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. This tragedy emphasizes the need for protective gear while cycling. Oregon’s cycling laws allow us to share our roads safely. Cyclists are required by law to use bicycle lanes when present and electric bicycles are specifically prohibited on Oregon’s sidewalks. In the limited locations where cyclists share a sidewalk with pedestrians, they may do so at a speed no greater than an ordinary walk when approaching crosswalks. Lastly, although Oregon’s laws do not require the use of a helmet for riders aged 16 and above, we strongly recommend the use of a DOT helmet for cyclists.
It’s unfortunate that so many people can’t seem to remember that when using a wheeled mode of transport, you ride in the same direction as traffic; you are no longer a pedestrian (on foot) when it’s recommended you walk against traffic, if there is no sidewalk.
So true, Louis…I work diligently to educate bicyclists about Oregon rules for vehicles, which includes bicycles. So sad when accidents happen.
It’s a sad event when these kinds of accidents occur.
As an avid bicyclist, I’m always urging bicyclists to know and adhere to the Oregon Revised Statues that give very clear safety rules for protecting all vehicles, which includes bicycles.
This article was not signed by its author, but this comment is for that person…
As someone who has ridden my bicycle across the US and Europe, and used it to commute to school and work for over 25 years, I do not agree with requiring helmets for adults. Having quick responses and easily viewing traffic without the encumbrance of a helmet has saved my life more than once. It’s call being an observant driver. Imagine driving your car with a helmet on…not so great, right?
A helmet will not protect you from being hit by a car…and who knows, it might be better to be dead than have permanent brain damage. I’ve been hit twice by cars when on my bicycle, and a helmet would not have mitigated the negligence of the automobile drivers that hit me.
I feel the same way about being required to wear a helmet on my motorcycle!! It should be optional.
Not sure what planet you hale from but I’ve worked in the medical field 16 yrs and Helmets are Definitely 💯 Helpful in saving lives and Not having brain damage!! I rode my own bike to work and my helmet also 💯 saved my life and brain!! Bicyclists need mandated helmets! Also, as well do bikers! Those flimsy army half helmets do nothing to protect a head/skull!! You need a decent full on motorcycle helmet!! My husband and I ride his motorcycle and it’s insanity waiting to happen when motorcyclists aren’t properly geared up while riding their bikes!! You’re Asking to die… 🥺😢
Becky, I never see US car drivers in helmets, so it’s surprising to hear you have proof of that in the medical field. But you’re right: mandating helmets for car drivers would help save lives. Each month 1000s of Americans’ brains are severely injured in car crashes, by some estimates causing 25% of all TBI-related hospitalizations. And car crashes cause more than half of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in people age 5 to 14 years old, a demographic that can’t even yet drive cars for transportation (and in Oregon is already mandated to wear bicycle helmets). Why aren’t youth also mandated to wear helmets inside motor vehicles? Every day there are reports of someone rolling their SUV or going off the road into a tree, utility pole, or first responder’s vehicle. It’s everybody’s right not to wear a car. But it’s inexplicable that car drivers won’t wear helmets.
This post is word for word the report police issued, except the word “Tuesday” was added, “Ninth” was spelled out, and oddly, the police department’s “offer of heartfelt condolences to the family” was omitted. It shouldn’t be misconstrued as investigative journalism, but that’s not been made very clear.
For example, police wrote: “She applied her brakes abruptly as she came upon a stopped vehicle at the intersection of Southeast 9th Street and ended up falling into the road.” It was not investigated how police know brakes were applied (we can assume the person biking was never able to tell them).
Police also wrote: “The driver of the stopped vehicle commenced a right-hand turn without seeing Wolff on the pavement, striking her.” The woman’s death was the apparent result. Yet unlike their helmet comment, police neglected to admonish drivers for making right-hand turns without looking, which is the direct path to seeing. It is unclear why police did not make safe turning their main safety message. This Saturday, a pedestrian was hit by a driver at the Lincoln City outlet mall entrance. Note that no one, even under the age of 16, is required to wear a helmet while walking.