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Name released of cyclist killed in Gray Court

Updated Friday 8/22, 5 p.m.
Gray Court, S.C. – A vehicle vs bicycle accident Thursday evening resulted in the death of a bicycle rider 1.4 miles north of Gray Court.
According to Chief Deputy Coroner Vickie Cheek, Richard Bouchard, 67, of Cassidi Court, Simpsonville, was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle on 101 N on Aug. 22.  Mr. Bouchard was pronounced dead on scene at 7:30 p.m. from blunt force injuries.
Trooper Joel Hovis with the South Carolina Highway Patrol reported that the accident occurred at 7:25 p.m. Thursday when a 16-year-old juvenile driver in a 2015 Nissan hit the bicyclist from behind. The driver of the Nissan was wearing a seatbelt and was uninjured, and the bicycle rider, a male, was wearing a helmet.
Both the vehicle and the bicycle were traveling in the southbound lane.
The driver of the Nissan was charged with driving too fast for condition. The accident is still under investigation by the SCHP.

6 Comments

  1. Don Youngblood on August 23, 2019 at 10:54 am

    The result of carelessness with a one ton high speed projectile (automobile) differs little from carelessness with a firearm or any other potentially lethal device. Such carelessness should be punished to the full extent of the law. SC DOT should thoroughly investigate, and improper conduct of the bicyclist notwithstanding, should seek the maximum penalty of the driver, manslaughter even – probably not murder since there was likely no harmful intent.

  2. Darlene on August 23, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    I may get backlash. But before you do. Remember I have and still suffer. My son was hit and killed 10 years ago by a very young lady. He hit her windshield. I ask for no punishment. Why, because she learned a horrible lesson. She saw my boys face. She was also ticket and at fault. She lives with that vision daily. I keep up. She is a very successful lady, a mom and still lives with this. So no. I’m so so sorry for the loss of life. I lost also.

  3. Dianne Woodley on August 23, 2019 at 9:18 pm

    I sincerely hope that they check to make sure he wasn’t texting. This bicyclist was an accomplished rider and lost his wife last year to a 32 years of cancer. He should be charged with manslaughter. He was practicing to ride with his son for the cancer run in honor of his wife.

  4. Jane Davis on August 24, 2019 at 1:02 pm

    Dick’s death is not only devastating to his family and friends. But the world has lost a vibrant, loving man. I am angry and hurt and I wish for punishment. Dick would forgive so I will try.

  5. Sonia on August 27, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    Dick was a sweet guy and neighbor. His whole family is. After the loss of his wife, his family suffered another tragedy. The driver should be penalized and not just a ticket. He killed someone, intentional or not. Dick’s life had meaning and to just give this teenager a ticket shows the injustice of our judicial system.

  6. Sherry on September 4, 2019 at 12:44 am

    I sorry for the loss but I’m going to share what happened to me less than a week ago. I was traveling down this road and went into a curve. As the curve started there are trees with limbs close to Rd. I caught a glimpse of a bicyclist. I jerked the wheel and missed him. I was not texting or on my phone talking. I was paying attention but he was already in the curve and couldn’t be seen till last minute. It could’ve been a bad situation thank God it wasn’t but bikes are not like cars when you going around a curve as I was and I wasn’t speeding either you can see the car it takes up a large part of the Rd but a bike on the side going around a curve or at night is hard to see. In a curve there are blind spots. So if I had hit this person you saying I should be charged with murder. I was doing everything I was supposed to do. Coming around a curve in a car and you have no clue there’s a bike there it’s moving at a slower speed and I’m sure somebody would same as I did and jerk the wheel not to hit the bike but how could someone expect for the person to be charged with murder over a complete accident. I would of been traumatized for the rest of my life. But why charge with murder when it couldn’t be helped but it sure wasn’t meant to happen. Do bikes ride with traffic or into it? Just wondering. I’m sorry for the loss and mean no disrespect but if a car had been coming and I couldn’t have missed him does that make me a murder that should be in prison with people that did intentionally take someone’s life?

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