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Susanna Schick Hit and Run Fund – Crowdfunding Campaign

Schick Crowdfunding Campaign / Photo from pinkracer.com

On Friday 6, 2012, there was a hit and run assault against a cyclist, Susanna Schick, in Downtown Los Angeles.

However, the police claimed that the incident involving the 42-year old woman and the driver of a white Lexus was not a road rage Hit-and-Run as earlier alleged. Rather, Lt. Paul Vernon of the LAPD argued that the experienced cyclist fell down on her bicycle. According to the lieutenant, there were many inconsistencies with the case that led them to conclude that there was no crime.

Events leading to the accident

According to a report given to BlogDowntown by the Lt. Vernon, the first sequence of events of the night of the incident is not in dispute. Susanna, nicknamed Pinky Racer, was cycling down Spring Street on Friday night at around 11.30 pm when a car backed out of a garage and swerved into the green bike lane.

The report gave a contradictory series of events that followed, stating that Susanna pedaled up to the vehicle, hit the side view mirror, and even yelled at the driver and passenger who quickly rolled up their windows. According to the statement recorded by Schick, she was not hit by the car. However, her friend, Jennifer Beatty, argued that it was a “physical improbability” that the extent of damage to the rear wheel of the bike could occur without a collision when interviewed by various media outlets.

Another blogger claims that what Beatty refers to as a “bike taco” was actually a fairly minor bend on the rear wheel. Besides the damage to her bicycle, Susanna suffered a concussion that could have affected her ability to recall the events of that night.

Another version of the story claims that no witnesses had come forward. However, the report given by BlogDowntown claimed that there were two officers who witnessed the incident, and they remember seeing Schick riding her bike for other 1-2 blocks before she wobbled and fell over right after the car had turned right. In other words, the police said there was no collision with the car, and Susanna simply wobbled and tumbled off her bike: something that Beatty continued to disagree with, claiming that the road is fairly smooth with no obstacles or drains to cause such an accident.

The Chip In Fund

Susanna was admitted at USC County Hospital from a broken collarbone, three pelvic fractures, six broken ribs, facial lacerations, and a concussion. It is a good thing she was wearing a helmet when the accident occurred.

Schick’s friends decided to create a Chip In fund on Sunday to help cater for the medical expenses and had managed to raise over $5,200 in a matter of days.