Authorities in Iowa County, however, have taken no action - no criminal charges for killing Belonger, and no ticket for failing to yield the right of way. Members of the Spring City Spinners Bicycle Club want to know why.
In a letter mailed to Iowa County District Attorney Larry Nelson, the leaders of the group, Belonger’s widow and the executive director of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin demand at least an answer, if not an official action that acknowledges the driver did something wrong.
“It is our opinion that there must be some official condemnation of his actions,” the group says. “Otherwise, the public may very well and possibly quite reasonably conclude that your county does not take the safety and rights of bicyclists seriously. That type of attitude can only lead to a greater disrespect of cyclists’ rights and therefore to more tragedy, not only in Iowa County, but throughout the state.”
Each year, more than a half-dozen cycling events take place on Iowa County’s narrow roads west of Madison. Belonger, a 62-year-old from Waukesha, was participating in one of them, the Insane Terrain Challenge, when he was killed on July 11, 2009.
In a letter dated December 1, Iowa County District Attorney Larry Nelson informed Belonger’s widow that no charges would be issued. It makes no mention of a citation, and does not include an explanation for his decision.
Last month Nelson said the responsibility for issuing a citation rested with the sheriff’s department. Iowa County Sheriff Steve Michek was uncertain why no ticket was issued.
The penalty for failing to yield the right of way and killing someone, as specified in state statutes, is a fine of $1,000 and a license suspension.
In contrast to the Belonger case, Town of Summit police acted on the Waukesha County District Attorney’s recommendation to issue a traffic citation to the driver who hit and killed a cyclist on Highway 18 this past Father’s Day.
Samuel Weirick, 20, of Dousman has been cited for failing to provide a safe passing distance of three feet before he fatally struck Brett Netke, who was out on a training ride.
Weirick faces a $114 fine and a possible three-point license deduction in addition to one-year license suspension because the violation resulted in a death.
The motorist struck Netke going eastbound on Highway 18, about a half-mile east of Highway 67. Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel reviewed the accident reports and recommended the police ticket Weirick, after he determined no criminal charges were warranted.
So far this year, four cyclists have been killed while riding in Wisconsin.
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