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Handlebar from another rider's bike hits Shawn Steinmetz, 33, in the chest. Autopsy today
By Carl Chancellor
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008
A terrible, tragic accident.
These were the words used by an Akron police officer to describe the collision that took the life of a 33-year-old Akron resident Tuesday afternoon at the city's skate and bicycle park.
Shawn Steinmetz died after the bike he was riding collided with another bike driven by Ronald Strieby, 36, of Syracuse, Ind., just before 2 p.m.
''They just like, T-boned,'' said Zack Baird, 15, of Green.
Baird sat on his bike at the skate park, which sits in the shadow of the Rubber Bowl, as about two dozen skateboarders, bikers and an inline skater practiced their moves two hours after the fatal accident.
According to Baird, Steinmetz was coming down off a banked incline and rode into the path of Strieby.
Lt. Rick Edwards, police spokesman, said Steinmetz's chest slammed into the handlebars of Strieby's bike in the impact.
''We won't know exactly what happened until there is an autopsy, but it appears he had a chest compression from the handlebars of the other bike,'' said Edwards.
An autopsy has been scheduled for this morning.
Edwards said a Barberton paramedic happened to be visiting the park when the two men collided.
''He performed CPR and stayed with him until paramedics arrived,'' said Edwards.
Steinmetz was taken to Akron City Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Strieby was uninjured.
Edwards said the men were not wearing helmets.
Skateboarder Chris Corbin, 20, of Akron said Steinmetz was a regular at the skate park.
''He was just a neat, laid-back guy. He was really cool,'' said Corbin, who said he had been friends with Steinmetz for more than a year. ''This is the last thing you would expect to happen.''
Although bikers and skateboarders continued to rocket their way through the various obstacles, Corbin said, the mood at the park was markedly subdued in the wake of the accident after the crash.
''It really struck me hard. It's going to be different around here without him,'' he said.
Baird said bumps, bruises and broken bones go with the territory, but the fatal accident has made him stop and think.
''I'm going to be a little more aware and a little more careful,'' said Baird.
Edwards said Strieby was in Akron with a group of friends, who reportedly are traveling across the country to visit BMX and skate parks. He said Strieby was not charged.
''It appears that this was just a terrible, tragic accident,'' said Edwards.
Carl Chancellor can be reached at 330-996-3725 or cchancellor@thebeaconjournal.com.
A terrible, tragic accident.
Get the full article here.
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