Officials said that “driver inattention” was likely a factor in the crash that killed a Denton bicyclist in Highland Village on Jan. 7.
According to the crash report from the Texas Department of Public Safety, 64-year-old Bob Pfarr was riding his bicycle just after 4 p.m. southbound on FM 2499 on the edge of the right lane just north of Harlington Drive when he was struck by an Infinity SUV driven by a 19-year-old Highland Village girl.
“The driver said she did not see the bicycle in time, swerved to miss it and struck the cyclist with the right front of her vehicle,” said Sgt. Lonny Haschel, public information officer for the Texas Highway Patrol.
Driver inattention was the only reason marked on the crash report that may have contributed to the incident. The report specifically did not indicate cellphone use as a possible cause.
The girl was the only occupant in the vehicle.
Pfarr was taken by CareFlite medical helicopter to Medical Center of Plano where he was pronounced dead the following morning. He was an avid cyclist, and his father was an Olympian bike racer who was inducted into the Bicycling Hall of Fame in 2006.
Haschel said the accident report was submitted to the Denton County District Attorney’s office for consideration.
“The actual charge will be criminally negligent homicide if they decide to pursue it, which is punishable by six months up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine,” said Sgt. Haschel.
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