TRENTON — The danger of riding a bicycle with dark clothes on a dim road was illuminated after Trenton’s Russell Powell died Tuesday night.
Powell, 46, was headed into Trenton as he rode his bike westbound on N.C. 41 near the Henderson Road intersection. A Toyota Camry struck Powell from behind, and he landed in the road after making impact with the car’s windshield.
As the driver, Kevin Thompson, 21, pulled over, a second car drove by and hit Powell, according to Sgt. C.L. Johnston of N.C. Highway Patrol in Kinston.
He said Powell was wearing dark clothing that disabled drivers to see him, especially on a dimly lit road.
“You need to make sure you have lights on your bike, light-colored clothing and try to be as visible as you can,” Johnston advised.
He said Powell was travelling in the middle of the travel lane when he was initially hit and the second driver, Deaundra Barfield, 25, didn’t see him in the street.
The accident was in a 45 mile-per-hour zone.
“We believe the vehicles were not speeding,” Johnston said. “It doesn’t take a lot of speed to cause damage to a body.”
Toxicology tests will be conducted on Powell and the medical examiner will determine which impact killed him.
Authorities don’t suspect either driver for drug or alcohol use as the investigation continues. There are no charges filed against Thompson or Barfield at this time.
“We look at all factors involved …,” Johnston said. “We don’t make a determination (of charges) with something like this right away.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.