Bicyclist killed, hit by car in Sussex County

The bicyclist involved in Saturday morning’s crash passed away Sunday night, due to complications from his injuries.

Ocean View Police identified the victim as 76-year-old Alfred Linwood Yergey III of Ocean View, DE. The driver was identified as 65-year-old Jodi Silverman Bartow of Bethesda, MD.

Yergey was reportedly riding his bicycle in the eastbound bike lane of Atlantic Avenue, around 10 AM on May 26. Police say Bartow was driving a 2018 Subaru Forester, in the left turn lane of westbound Atlantic Avenue, waiting to turn into parking lot. There was reportedly heavy traffic, due to the holiday weekend, and eastbound traffic was stop-and-go.

A pickup truck in the eastbound lane of Atlantic Avenue stopped, to let the Forester make a left turn into the parking lot. The Forester began turning and failed to yield the right-of-way to the bicyclist, and the bicyclist’s front tire hit the car's front right bumper.

The Forester came to a stop upon impact with the bike. Bartow did not sustain any injuries. The bicyclist sustained life-threatening injuries and was flown by Delaware State Police helicopter to Christiana Hospital. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

Neither alcohol nor unsafe speed were a factor on behalf of the driver of Bartow or Yergey. At this time, Ocean View Police are still investigating the collision and no charges have been filed. As a result of the collision, Atlantic Avenue from Old School Lane to Woodland Avenue was shut down for approximately three hours.

Due to heavy traffic associated with the Memorial Day weekend, Ocean View police are urging motorists and bicyclists to use extreme care when driving on area roadways.