A 75-year-old Port Townsend man has died after the bicycle he was riding collided with a vehicle near the intersection of 19th and Landes streets.
The bicyclist, Marcus Henthorn, died at …
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A 75-year-old man was fatally injured after his bicycle collided with a vehicle on 19th Street in Port Townsend March 28. Photo courtesy East Jefferson Fire Rescue
A 75-year-old Port Townsend man has died after the bicycle he was riding collided with a vehicle near the intersection of 19th and Landes streets.
The bicyclist, Marcus Henthorn, died at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle March 29, according to hospital spokesperson Susan Gregg.
The driver of the vehicle that collided with Henthorn, Patrick Cleon McConnell, 63, of Port Townsend, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular assault. He was booked into Jefferson County Jail March 28, and released from jail March 29. No bond was set.
According to Port Townsend City Prosecutor Chris Ashcraft, no charges were filed after McConnell’s release as the state is waiting for blood-test results.
According to a Port Townsend Police Department (PTPD) incident report, McConnell and Henthorn were both traveling eastbound on 19th Street March 28 at 2:13 p.m., when McConnell failed to yield to Henthorn as McConnell made a right turn onto Landes Street.
According to an East Jefferson Fire Rescue press release, Henthorn was traveling with another bicyclist at the time of the incident.
McConnell told police he saw the second bicyclist in his rearview mirror before turning, but never noticed the first bicyclist, according to the release.
McConnell’s maroon Hyundai Sonata crossed the bicycle lane as he made the turn in front of Henthorn.
Henthorn abruptly applied his brakes, causing him to fly over his handlebars and strike the vehicle before hitting the ground head first, according to the release.
Several law enforcement officers and a civilian performed CPR on Henthorn following the crash.
EJFR personnel arrived and continued CPR. Henthorn regained a pulse approximately 10 minutes later. Once stabilized, the man was flown to Harborview Medical Center, according to EJFR.
McConnell provided a voluntary breath sample, which had a reading of .000 for alcohol, according to the PTPD report.
A Washington State Patrol trooper conducted a field sobriety test, and McConnell performed poorly, according to the PTPD report. McConnell had five of six clues present in a horizontal gaze nystagmus test. The trooper determined there was probable cause to arrest McConnell for DUI.
A warrant was obtained to draw blood from McConnell for testing.
PTPD Sgt. Jason Greenspane is leading the investigation of the crash, assisted by an investigation unit from the Washington State Patrol.
Henthorn was wearing a safety helmet and was riding in a marked bicycle lane, according to the release.
EJFR Fire Chief Jim Walkowski recommended all bicyclists wear a safety helmet at all times. Bicyclists hospitalized with head injuries are 20 times as likely to die as those without such injuries, according to the press release.
