The Daily Iowan:1996

Bicyclist seriously injured

By Kevin Ho The Daily Iowan

A UI graduate student was taken to the UI Hospitals and Clinics in serious condition Thursday night, after being struck by a van while riding her bicycle near the corner of Linn and Market streets shortly after 3 p.m.

Rie Hachiyanagi, 24, was heading south on the east sidewalk of Linn Street when she rode into the path of an oncoming vehicle driven by Jeffrey Eberle, 28, of Iowa City. She sustained head and facial injuries. The accident, which kept traffic on Market Street restricted to one lane for several hours late Thursday afternoon, occurred because Hachiyanagi failed to stop at the intersection, witnesses at the scene said.

"The girl on the bike didn't stop," said Lauren McConnell, of La'James College of Hairstyling, 227 E. Market St. "And he braked, but he hit her," McConnell said. "She flew up and landed on her chest on the street." Angie Henry, also of La'James, witnessed the HJ Limited Heating and Air Conditioning van hit Hachiyanagi from across the street

. "We saw the accident on our break, and we yelled inside to call 911," Henry said. "The ambulances were on the scene in about four minutes. "She kind of flipped over. Her head landed under the wheel and (the driver) came out to help her, but we yelled at him to back up and he did. Then he came out to help." "It was a serious accident," McConnell said. "There was blood pouring out.

Her head was open and legs were ripped up." McConnell said mailboxes may have obstructed Eberle's and Hachiyanagi's views of the intersection.

"It wasn't (Eberle's) fault," McConnell said. "The mailboxes probably blocked both their views. He didn't have time to react." Eberle appeared shaken as he sat in a police squad car while officers remained on the scene to investigate. Eberle did not sustain any injuries. The accident remains under investigation, and charges are pending.

Title: Bicyclist seriously injured

By: Kevin Ho Page: 1A

Date: 6/28/96