Evanston Children's Librarian Killed When Bicycle Hits Motorcycle

EVANSTON, Ill. (STMW) -- A north suburban children's librarian died Wednesday, two days after she was involved in a crash with a motorcycle while bicycling to work.

Gigi Galich, 55, was arriving for her day at work when the crash happened Monday on Church Street, Evanston Public Library said in a statement on its website. She started working at the library in 1976 as a high school student, and has been a children's librarian at the Main Library since 1991.

"Gigi was energetic, dedicated and passionate. She will be greatly missed. Her work will live on through the many, many children who learned to love reading under her care and who will remember her presence and assistance as they came to the library for books, stories, crafts and fun," the statement said.

Evanston police responded about 9 a.m. Monday to the 600 block of Church Street, between Orrington and Chicago avenues, police said in a statement. The library is located on the same block.

A witness told police the motorcyclist was eastbound on Church Street when the bicyclist, also eastbound in the designated bike lane, crossed the street mid-block right into the path of the motorcycle, a statement from police said.

The Evanston woman was wearing a helmet at the time, police said.

Galich, of the 1300 block of Ashland Avenue in Evanston, was taken to Evanston Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 4:13 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. The medical examiner's office said her name was Gay Galich.

An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

The 27-year-old Chicago man driving the motorcycle was not hurt, police said, and was not issued any citations.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)