Cyclist dies of injuries from collision

A 32-year-old Spokane bicyclist has died from injuries suffered in a collision last fall at Fourth Avenue and Lincoln Street.

Matthew R. Hardie died on Dec. 14 from complications stemming from head injuries sustained in the Oct. 4 collision, according to the Spokane County medical examiner’s office.

He is the third bicyclist to die in Spokane since March 1. A fourth bicyclist fatality occurred in North Idaho in August.

Hardie was headed north on Lincoln on his way to work when he collided with a vehicle that was proceeding through the intersection, according to an acquaintance.

Police Cpl. David Adams said the motorist was headed east on Fourth where traffic must stop at a stop sign and yield to traffic on Lincoln before proceeding across Lincoln.

Adams said Tuesday that he was in the process of wrapping up an investigation of the accident and will submit it to supervisors for review before it goes to the prosecuting attorney’s office.

Impaired driving was ruled out as a factor in the collision, he said.

On Aug. 14, Patricia Lambie, 46, a support bicycle rider in the Spokane to Sandpoint relay, was killed when she was struck by a motorist while riding on Highway 41 near Blanchard, Idaho.

A vehicular manslaughter charge was filed against the driver who struck her. Bowdeen S. Kahuhu, of Newport, was ordered last month to serve a one-year sentence on the charge.

In another case, Scott C. Reckford faces charges of felony hit-and-run and vehicular homicide in the March 1 death of bicyclist David Squires, 56, who was riding his bike on a crosswalk on the west side of Division Street at Sprague Avenue when he was hit.

On Aug. 15, Frank T. Redthunder, 47, failed to stop at a stop sign while riding his bicycle north on Scott Street at Second Avenue and was struck by an oncoming pickup, police said Tuesday.

Police said they determined the pickup driver was unable to stop in time to prevent the collision. No charges were filed.