Durham Bicycle Hit and Run: The Death of Matthew Simpson
On July 10 2022, Matthew Simpson was killed in a hit-and-run accident while crossing a crosswalk. He was biking with his wife, who he was married to for 8 years, his 4-year-old son, and his 1-year-old daughter at Westover Park on the way home from a museum. Matthew Simpson’s wife reported that she saw a car moving towards them very fast and realized that it was not going to stop. As a result, the vehicle hit Matthew Simpson very hard, causing him to be hospitalized. After being cared for in the hospital, Simpson died from the injuries of the accident on July 15, 2022. The man who hit Simpson was identified as Omari Newsome; he is still yet to be found. Newsome was convicted with the following charges: felony hit and run with serious injuries, felony conspiracy, driving while license suspended, failure to reduce speed and failure to stop at a steady red light.
Because of this tragic accident, a yellow sign has been put in the crosswalk to warn drivers of the pedestrians and cyclists on the road. The Executive Director of Bike Durham expressed his hope to see narrower lanes for cars along Guess Road as well as protected bike lanes in the future. A white painted bicycle, also known as a ghost bike, has been placed where Matthew Simpson was killed as a way to represent his legacy and the memories he made with his family on that bike trail. A memorial ride was also held where cyclists wore a black armband and biked silently to honor his memory. Bike Durham is planning on holding an event to honor Matthew Simpson’s life.
News Articles:
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article263767723.html
https://abc11.com/matthew-simpson-hit-and-run-cyclist-killed-omari-newsome/12053588/
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