Illinois City,IL : Police identify 20-year-old fatal bicyclist crash victim on January, Wednesday 10th 2018

A 20-year-old man died Wednesday, Jan. 10, after being struck while on his bicycle by a vehicle just before 5 a.m.

The crash took place on Waverly Road between 24th and 32nd streets, where a 2003 Toyota Camry driven by a 23-year-old man hit Johnathon Herlein, who was traveling southbound in a lane of traffic. According to Herlein’s social media profiles, he worked at I&W Engineering on 32nd Street and lives in Hamilton. The vehicle’s driver, who was also traveling southbound on Waverly, told police he did not see Herlein, who was wearing dark clothing, until right before hitting him.

The 23-year-old car driver did not suffer any injuries and immediately called 911 after the crash, according to Holland Department of Public Safety Capt. Rick Walters. Herlein died at the scene from his injuries.

After Herlein was struck by the Camry, police believe he was struck by a second vehicle that did not remain at the scene and has not yet been identified. Police are asking anyone who may have information about this second driver or vehicle to call the Holland Department of Public Safety. At this time, police believe the second vehicle to be a white SUV, but don’t know its make or model.

Individuals may contact the Holland Department of Public Safety at 616-355-1150 or email investigators at policetips@cityofholland.com. Anonymous tips may be made through Silent Observer by calling 1-877-887-4536, texting OCMTIP and your message to 274637 or you may go online and submit a tip using the online form at mosotips.com.

This incident remains under investigation and further information will be released as it becomes available.

Seven weeks before Herlein was struck and killed, he posted a photograph of himself on Facebook with a bloody face, commenting that he had hit an electrical box on Riley Street just before 5 a.m. Nov. 18 while traveling to work on his bike and had suffered a concussion.

The Wednesday morning crash is the second fatal car versus bicyclist crash in Holland in the last month.

On Dec. 18, an 18-year-old female bicyclist died after being struck by a pickup truck at the intersection of 16th Street and U.S.-31 on the north side of Holland just after 8:30 p.m.


Lifesaving efforts were attempted at the scene, but the woman died as a result of the “significant injuries sustained in the crash,” according to a news release from Walters. She was identified as Yen Ngo, a college freshman at Augustana College in Illinois. Originally from Hanoi, Vietnam, Ngo was visiting a friend in Michigan during her winter break.

Upon investigation, police determined Ngo crossed the street when the pickup truck had a green light.

While data is not yet available for 2017, 10 bicyclists died in crashes from 2012-2016 in Ottawa and Allegan counties, according to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. Of those 10 fatal bicyclist-involved crashes, nine were in Ottawa County and six out of the 10 happened when it was dark out.

Overall, there have been 483 bicyclist-involved crashes in the two counties within that timeframe. Additionally, there have been 290 pedestrian-involved crashes from 2012-2016 in the two counties. The vast majority of bicyclist-involved crashes take place in Ottawa County, with nearly 86 percent of the 483 crashes occurring in Ottawa County.

Both Herlein’s and Ngo’s deaths happened when it was dark out.

Kerry Irons, a year-round bicyclist who lives in Holland, said educating both drivers and bike riders about safety measures continues to be a challenge for local cycling groups.

“Roughly half of the fatal crashes are people that are riding a bicycle because they have no other choice,” Irons said. “Many of them are riding the wrong way, crossing at the wrong time, wearing dark clothing.”


Irons, who is a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, Pedal Holland and the League of Michigan Bicyclists, said professional cyclists call amateur bike-riders that aren’t clearly visible in the dark “ninja riders.”

“When you look at the urban ninja rider, I don’t think they’re part of a bicycle club,” Irons said. “They’re not getting the education and it’s a huge challenge.”

Irons commuted to work for 30 years and continues to bicycle around Holland as often as he can. While most bicycles bought from a store come with reflectors attached, Irons said some of the intersections in Holland are particularly difficult for bicyclists to navigate safely.

“When you buy a bicycle, those reflectors only work when the car’s lights are perpendicular to them,” Irons said. “The Lincoln and 32nd intersection is particularly bad, with all those roads coming together. If somebody’s on Lincoln and a cyclist is coming down State (Street), the reflectors are not going to work.”

Irons noted, though, that having reflectors on a bike is better than nothing. He recommends that all cyclists wear reflective and bright clothing, along with installing flashing lights on the front and rear of their bicycle.

“Lights do cost money, but they’re a big issue,” he said. “Both of these (fatal crashes) were in the dark. It could be they don’t have a license, they may not be able to afford a vehicle, but it’s safer to ride in the street than to ride in the sidewalk. Every single driveway when you’re on the sidewalk is an intersection.”

It is legal in all 50 states for bicyclists to ride in the roadway, and several of the organizations Irons is involved in are working to include more bicyclist safety training into driver education classes and school curriculum. The amount of interest in bicyclist education that area school districts show varies greatly, which Irons said can be discouraging.

“While these individual incidents cause parents to say they don’t want their kids to ride a bike in the street, it’s actually pretty safe,” Irons said. “There are far more motorcycle and car accidents on a per-hour basis. There aren’t that many incidents, but they light up the radar when they happen. The more cyclists that are on the road, the safer it is for not only the cyclists but also the drivers. It makes everybody aware.”

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Police identify 20-year-old fatal bicyclist crash victim