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Another death too close to home

Posted by Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel on May 11, 2011

advocacy

My wife started crying last night as we watched a news report about Adam Filtz.

The 29-year-old was killed in a crash - Chevy Tahoe vs. moped - Monday afternoon at the intersection of E. Lincoln and S. Kinnickinnic Aves., near our house.

He was a guy from Cudahy who worked in a bank downtown and was riding southbound, heading home when he died. According to the news report, he was also an expectant father.

Somewhat similar to Filtz, I ride through that intersection nearly every day, and recognize that I am sure to lose in a biker vs. Tahoe collision.

On my way to work this morning, I stopped to take pictures of the flowers that had been placed as a memorial to Filtz. A couple blocks later, I passed the ghost bike placed as a memorial to John Harrington, the North Shore Firefighter killed in a crash with a cement truck on May 27, 2004, as he pedaled toward his job in Glendale.

And once in the office, I checked out the medical examiner's report detailing what happened to Adam Filtz.

A camera mounted outside a nearby restaurant captured the crash on video, and it seems both Filtz and the driver of the Tahoe lost a race to beat a yellow light at Lincoln and KK.

The Tahoe, heading northbound, had stopped, then turned left in front of Filtz, heading south. The light and the Tahoe both turned as he approached the intersection.

Filtz suffered severe head injuries, and did not appear to be wearing the helmet found near his body.

On this blog, I've written too often about people being killed as the result of impatience and miscalculation. The scenario detailed in the medical examiner's report suggests that this crash, and Filtz's death, could easily have been avoided.

To get that message across, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin have launched a Share and Be Aware campaign to remind motorists to watch out for pedestrians and people on bikes.

That message should be extended to all users of the road.

The mind-set of motorists, bicyclists and everyone else needs to change from "look out for me" to "I'm looking out for you."

I realized last night that my wife wasn't crying for Adam Filtz, or for me, but for his widow.

And her message was more compelling than Share and Be Aware.

With tears on her cheeks, she said,  "I don't know what I'd do if that happened to you."

9 Comments for "Another death too close to home "

  1. Last month I was involved in a similar accident (clipped by a man turning left across me) and I am humbled to know this could have been me. My condolences to Adam Filtz's family. I'm sure it was a fate undeserved.

    littletinyfish May 11, 2011 12:44 PM

  2. Thank you for addressing this. I, too, ride this same path every day and rode by this day on my way home. I couldn't help but, first, feel for the guy and his family. Second, as a biker, a father, and a husband, I understand that this could happen to me at anytime if my guard is down. My motto is to expect the worst out of drivers and expect them to make the wrong move every time. This is the case a lot of the time and has saved me in many instances. This is tragic and my deepest condolences to the widow and the unborn child.

    Convinced of the Hex May 11, 2011 12:48 PM

  3. Very, very sad. I agree that "I am looking out for you" is an excellent thing to have in mind when driving, both on a bike or in a car. Here it appears that the SUV stopped - the biker thought he can continue safely before his right of way was taken and he was killed. The fault is clear - but this is of little help for the widow and her child.
    Although this does not take away the SUV driver's fault: Why did the biker carry around a helmet without wearing it? Maybe it fell off during the accident (although it shouldn't)?

    sharpie May 11, 2011 12:52 PM

  4. As a friend I can tell after talking to the family he ALWAYS wore his helmet. The is a sad day. I cant imagine what his wife is going though. I can tell you this, there was NEVER a time I seen Adam and he wasn't smiling. He will be missed by many. May God rest his soul. :(

    waukeshabiker May 11, 2011 11:42 PM

  5. Whenever I am out riding on the roads I do so with the assumption that every driver in a car is either on the phone and distracted or just a crappy driver. With this in mind I give all cars wide berth. I have a rear view mirror attached to my helmet so I can see what's coming up behind me. I also wear a bright yellow jacket/vest so that drivers can see me from a long way off. Condolences to his wife and family. Another needless death caused by two people trying to make it through an intersection before the light turns red. I wonder if the Tahoe driver was cited?

    mikeinmke May 12, 2011 8:39 AM

  6. My Condolences to the Filtz family. This is all too tragic and unnecessary. People using the roads need to learn to work together in order to avoid future fatalities.

    Modra May 12, 2011 9:26 AM

  7. mikeinmke - no tickets issued, so far. The case will be sent to the District Attorney's office for review.

    T. Held May 12, 2011 12:35 PM

  8. I too have cried... not only because Adam was a friend of mine, but because of the same sentiments of your wife... I couldn't imagine awaiting the birth of my first child with the love of my life whom I know would've been the most amazing father, only to become a 27 year old widow within a matter of moments and now my unborn child has been stripped of ever having the pleasure of knowing his amazing father, my best friend has been taken away and the life that we were just starting and the plans that we had made are gone in the blink of an eye... it's so unfair... RIP Adam, my friend <3

    diamondeyez82 May 12, 2011 2:37 PM

  9. My condolences, diamondeyez82. And thank you for sharing your sentiments.

    T. Held May 12, 2011 5:50 PM

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