Cyclist Found Dead After Possible Hit & Run
DENVER (CBS4/AP) - Denver police say they're looking for witnesses in an apparent hit-and-run accident that left a bicyclist dead.
Officials say they received a call about a man down early Monday morning. They say David Pickett, 50, had been biking to work when he was hit by a vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials say they have no description of the vehicle that struck Pickett. They're looking for witnesses who were at the intersection of 46th Avenue and Josephine Street in northeast Denver around 5:15 a.m.
Two truck drivers for Coca-Cola were driving by and saw Pickett's body and bicycle in the street and alerted police.
Police believe Pickett was heading eastbound on 46th and the vehicle was heading north on Josephine through the intersection.
Pickett worked for AT&T with his brother, which is about 6 blocks away from the accident scene.
Friends say it was routine for Pickett to call his wife Maggie when he arrived at work after the 11-mile ride every morning.
"About 5:45 a.m. she got a phone call from a friend who said, 'Did you see that tragic accident? Some guy was hit and killed by a hit-and-run driver,'" said Pastor Rick Long, the Pickett family representative. "She just knew at that moment it was David."
Martha Reyes lives in the area of the accident and was at the scene when Maggie showed up.
"I was trying to comfort her. She came out here with no jacket," Reyes said. "She was really upset, so I gave her a glass of water and put a jacket on her back. The cop handed her his phone and she just completely broke down."
Pickett just celebrated his 50th birthday on Sunday night with his family, including his mother.
"He was gentle and he was loving, he cared for people," Long said. "This was a great loss."
Authorities say they're looking for a vehicle that might have damages consistent with hitting someone.
A memorial fund has been set up in Pickett's name at the Grace Church of Arvada. All the money raised will be donated to a non-profit of the family's choice.
Anyone with information is asked to call Denver police at (720) 913-2000. Remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com.
(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
