CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A memorial has been set up at the intersection where a cyclist died when she was struck by an SUV in south Charlotte Saturday morning.
Stacy Stranick was taken to Carolinas-Medical Center-Main, where she was pronounced dead at 11:21 a.m., police said.
Stacy Stranick (Facebook)
"She was a very strong cyclist,” friend Scott Campbell said. “In that top 1 percent of non-professionals, very fast, very strong, but that did not go to her head."
She was a mother of three and was always focused on helping other people, Campbell said.
"So that's the type of person she was,” he said. “Always encouraging you. Always a little joke. Really cared about you. It's just devastating."
The driver of the SUV was not injured.
Police said a preliminary investigation shows the SUV attempted to make a left turn onto Bucknell Avenue in Myers Park, and the bicyclist entered the intersection, was struck by the SUV and was knocked into the road.
The driver of the SUV, Margaret Seneker, was charged with failing to yield the right of way and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
Some said the city is not cyclist friendly.
"It's an absolute tragedy,” Kate Cavazza, with Sustain Charlotte, said. “Last year was the highest pedestrian and cyclist death rate in Charlotte -- 27 pedestrians were killed in 2017. There are some infrastructure changes that are well around Charlotte that need to be addressed."
Police said speed and alcohol are not factors in the crash and the bicyclist was wearing a helmet.