On October 22nd, 2024, at approximately 1:55 PM, a Lincoln City Police Officer observed a female lying in the street next to an electric bicycle at the intersection of SE 9th St and Highway 101. The Officer began to render assistance as 911 calls about the incident were being received. North Lincoln Fire & Rescue and Pacific West Ambulance personnel also responded; however, 47-year-old Danielle Wolff of Lincoln City ultimately succumbed to her injuries and passed at the scene.
An initial investigation determined that Wolff had been driving her electric bike southbound on the sidewalk on the east side of the Highway. She applied her brakes abruptly as she came upon a stopped vehicle at the intersection of SE 9th St and ended up falling into the roadway. The driver of the stopped vehicle commenced a right-hand turn without seeing Wolff on the pavement, striking her, but then immediately pulled to the side of the road and called 911 to summon assistance. The driver has fully cooperated with the investigation of the incident.
During the scene investigation, traffic was diverted down to two lanes for approximately four hours, while members of the Lincoln County Multi-Agency Crash Team, representing each of the law enforcement agencies in the County, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation assisted with the investigation, which is currently on-going. No charges have been filed at this time.
Unfortunately, Wolff was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. This tragedy emphasizes the need for protective gear while cycling. Oregon’s cycling laws allow us to share our roads safely. Cyclists are required by law to use bicycle lanes when present and electric bicycles are specifically prohibited on Oregon’s sidewalks. In the limited locations where cyclists share a sidewalk with pedestrians, they may do so at a speed no greater than an ordinary walk when approaching crosswalks. Lastly, although Oregon’s laws do not require the use of a helmet for riders aged 16 and above, we strongly recommend the use of a DOT helmet for cyclists.
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