Crime & Safety

Bicyclist Hit By Car Friday Night on Veterans Highway Has Died From Injuries

Police said that dark clothing, poor lighting in that section of roadway contributed to the crash.

Around 8 p.m. on Friday, a bicyclist was hit by a car while both were traveling north on Veterans Highway near Benfield Road. According to Anne Arundel County Fire Department spokesman Michael Cox, the cyclist was flown by Maryland State helicopter to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore with life-threatening injuries. He has since died.

The bicyclist has been identified as Matthew Jeffrey Young, 40, no fixed address, according to a report released by Anne Arundel County Police spokesman Glenn Shanahan. 

The police report said that a 2000 Buick LeSabre driven by Larry Vesperman, 64, was driving north on Veteran's Highway when he struck the bicyclist from behind. The report further stated that conditions on that portion of the roadway—including little ambient light and lack of a bicycle lane—were compounded because the bicyclist was wearing dark clothing and only had one small reflective lens on the back of the bicycle. Young did have a rear red LED flashing light, but it was not on at the time of the crash.

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The report said that Vesperman did not see Young in the lane in front of him and struck from behind, throwing the cyclist onto the windshield.

Vesperman was not injured in the crash. The report said that it does not appear that alcohol or excessive speed were involved. Further, bicyclist visiblity and driver error were significant factors. An investigation is ongoing.

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