Family Of Runner Killed Remembers Her Kindness
CBS 11's Bud Gillett Reports:
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A Dallas family is grieving after a freak accident on a popular running and bike trail killed a young woman.
28-year-old Lauren Huddleston died days after being hit by a bicyclist on Dallas' Katy Trail. While her death renews debate on sharing the congested hike-and-bike trail, her family wants the immediate focus to be on the lives Huddleston saved through organ donation.
"I think I would like people to remember her kindness and her smile," says her brother, Charles Townsend, as he sorts through a host of emotions remembering his sister.
Lauren Huddleston was a Highland Park High School and University of Texas grad, an accountant with Price, Waterhouse, Coopers; and a woman who loved to exercise, which led her to the trail where she reportedly turned into a bicyclist during her Thursday evening run. She died Sunday night without ever regaining consciousness.
"And we are confident that she never felt any pain or anything remotely close to that from the time of the accident 'til she passed away" says Townsend.
But her family says she lives on through others: her liver, kidneys, and corneas were transplanted into needy recipients. "And through her skin donations she will have helped 75-100 people," according to Townsend, "not to mention the contributions she will have been able to make to research as well."
Meantime, word spread among the Katy's runners and cyclists. Vinette Montgomery and her friends placed flowers at the site where Lauren was struck down. Montgomery uses the trail, and she's also the mother of adult children. "I think that makes me understand the grief her parents are feeling,.. And we use this trail and feel connected to all the people out here and after all, we're a community! And we just want to show support and love for the family, if we could. "
The death has renewed debate about the ability of pedestrians sharing the trail with wheeled vehicles of all kinds, from baby carriages to bicycles. "I love bicycling," said patty nail, while taking a break from her Nordic walking exercise. "However, I think we're going to have to come with a plan to slow down the bikers to yield to the pedestrians. "
The trail where Huddleston was struck is split with one lane dedicated to pedestrians. Witnesses say Huddleston---like many other runners---was using the other lane. Jim Rose both bikes and runs on the Katy Trail and says this incident is unlikely to be repeated. "I think it was a freak accident and something that shouldn't be considered a dangerous activity here on the Katy Trail. "
Lauren Huddleston's family would rather the focus be on Lauren Huddleston's gifts to strangers right now. "We just hope people would step away from that for a little bit to look at something like organ donation and what Lauren was able to do through her passing. "
A memorial service for Lauren Huddleston is set for 1pm Thursday at the First United Methodist Church of Dallas.
