A Grim Reminder

 Ghost Bike to commemorate the death of Livingston Pangburn

Over the next few days thousands of college students will stream past this memorial, erected soon after Amherst College graduation day last May 26th, when a tragedy occurred around 4:00 PM on a busy Sunday afternoon.

The cycle of being a college town means the two busiest weekends of the year are when our institutes of higher education go on hiatus for the summer via graduations,  and now when they reopen for the start of the fall semester.

Hampshire College will be shy one gifted student, Livingston Pangburn, age 22, most recently from nearby Granby. 

He was descending a somewhat steep hill heading east on College Street when a panel truck heading west took a left into the Amherst College east entrance.

 Amherst College East Entrance, College Street looking east

A fatal collision resulted.

According to a recent email response from Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Pepyne:  "The  investigation of this accident has not been completed.  The Mass. State Police Collision and Accident Reconstruction (CARS) team generally takes three to four months to complete an investigation."

I've noticed, however, with these tragic fatal accidents that the longer it takes the less likely charges will be brought against the driver.

Either way, it doesn't bring back Liv Pangburn.

Sad Symbol

 

Ghost Bike, Amherst College

A shell shocked aide to Robert Kennedy was lamenting a last-second change in plans for the Senator's exit from the Ambassador Hotel ballroom that fateful night, leading him directly into the path of his assassin.

Another more experienced aide then wondered how many times previously a last-second change in plans had diverted him from just such an ambush.

Anyone who takes cycling seriously has a near-miss story to tell.  So a ghost bike hits home:  There but for the grace of God ...

A freshly painted ghost bike has now appeared at the location of the May 26 Sunday afternoon fatal bike vs truck collision at the east entrance to Amherst College off busy College Street (Rt 9).

The tragic accident, still under investigation, took the life of Hampshire College student Livingston Pangburn, age 22.

Who probably also had his share of near misses. 

Ashes to ashes...

Killing a Ghost Bike

Ch 3 TV picks up the story

UPDATE: Tuesday 6:00 AM
Today's Gazette (using top photo above with permission) states a driver contacted police at 5:31 PM on Saturday after observing two men attacking the bike with axes. Hard to believe two Nitwits could be so callous (also kind of early in the evening to be drunk.)
###########################################################
ORIGINAL post: Monday 10:00 AM
The Ghost Bike on Montague Road, up for only three weeks, marking the spot where 21-year-old Blake Goodman was killed by a hit-and-run driver was heavily vandalized this past weekend.

And the pernicious perp who did it must have been a Lizzie Borden fan as it appears the bike was whacked 40 times or more with an ax.

Springfield Republican updates:


September 21

Deadly reminder

Another Ghost Bike in Amherst

This Ghost Bike marks the area on Montague Road in North Amherst where 21-year-old Blake Goodman was killed the night of September 12 by a hit and driver—the second such fatality this year. Police are still looking for a black Geo Prizm with passenger side damage.

Another vehicular homicide

Bad things, they say, happen in three's. Let's hope not.

This weekend's hit-and-run death of Umass student Blake Goodman, cycling on Montague Road, coming on the wheels of Misty Basi's equally tragic demise on University Drive last Memorial Day will give me pause later today when I saddle up for my daily ride about town.

The haunting "Ghost Bike", chained to a tree near the Hanger Pub & Grill close to the spot Misty died, disappeared a couple of weeks ago. Maybe it will now reappear out on Montague Road.

A haunting reminder

This "ghost bike" appeared near the spot on University Drive where cyclist Misty Bassi was run down by a hit-and-run driver on Memorial Day morning. She was hit head on, so at least her death was instantaneous.

When Umass students return and The Hanger starts packing them in again, maybe more folks will be reminded that a car is a deadly weapon.

CBS reports