PORTAGE (WKZO AM/FM) — Authorities have identified the cyclist that was struck and killed by a pickup near the Pfizer manufacturing complex in Portage as 20-year-old Jeremy Smith of Kalamazoo Township.
Portage Public Safety says Smith was struck by the 20-year-old Hartford man’s vehicle Monday night in the 7200 block of Portage Road. He died at the scene. The collision remains under investigation.
The City of Portage prides itself on being a bike and pedestrian friendly community and that’s why it’s been a blow to first have a young boy struck and killed in a crosswalk on 12th Street and this week’s death of a 20-year-old cyclist on Portage Road.
Council Member Patricia Randall says they have a runner and a cyclist in their city logo and they should review their ordinances and look at what other cities are doing to protect their pedstrians.
Council Member Jim Pearson on some streets, bikers are safer using sidewalks, and contrary to rumors, that’s not illegal.
Mayor Peter Strazdas reminded the council that they should wait for Public Safety to complet the investigation into the two deaths before they start recommending changes
Investigators say it could be weeks before they have all the forensics back from the lab and they can determine what did and did not happen.
