Retired Professor Recovering After Bicycle Accident
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man is facing charges after a retired college professor was injured Tuesday evening when he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Highland Park.
Dr. David Wood, a retired University of Pittsburgh professor, is recovering today after he was struck by a car Tuesday evening.
A long-time friend of the Wood's family, Mary Beth Howell, was worried when she saw the wreckage.
"He would have been on his way home at that time of night. He would have been arriving home," said Howell. "It's just so sad."
Police took the driver of the car, identified as Mark McCloskey of Valencia, into custody following the accident. Officials say he is facing charges in connection with hitting the bicyclist and leaving the scene.
The path of destruction was clearly marked by police. There are tire marks on the sidewalk, and police say the driver knocked down a stop sign, kept going and got into another accident.
"Shortly before the accident happened here, we had received a number of calls in the Highland Park area of a car speeding and hitting telephone poles and stop signs, things like that," said Sgt. Michael Pilyih, of Pittsburgh Police. "A few minutes later, we got a call about a bicyclist run over at this intersection by apparently by the same car."
McCloskey was charged with reckless driving on top of the charge for hitting the bicyclist.
His car, without its front tire at the time of his arrest, was also believed to have been involved in an accident causing damage to a truck.
Police say Dr. Wood was in stable condition as of Wednesday morning.
A university spokesperson say Dr. Wood has been with Pitt since 1969 and was a professor within the neuroscience department for many years when he retired in 2007.
"He's just an all-around good guy and I hope he's okay," said Howell.
RELATED LINKS:
Bicyclist Struck By Hit And Run Driver (9/5/12)
More Local News
