A Durango man who hit and killed a cyclist will not be charged after authorities determined the cyclist pulled out in front of his truck, according to Colorado State Patrol.
Capt. Adrian Driscoll said Pagosa Springs resident Marcel Barel, 88, was cycling in the paved center median of U.S. Highway 160 on Tuesday afternoon when Barel attempted to cross eastbound traffic. The crash occurred at milepost 138, west of the Ace Hardware store, in Pagosa Springs.
In doing so, Barel pulled out in front of a Ford F-150 traveling east and was struck. The truck was driven by Durango resident Richard Clark, 24.
The incident was first reported in this Thursday’s Pagosa Springs Sun.
Driscoll said Barel was taken to a hospital in Colorado Springs and was pronounced dead around 7:20 p.m. He was wearing a helmet, Driscoll said.
Clark will not be issued any citations because the cyclist was determined to be the cause of the crash, Driscoll said. No alcohol, drugs or excessive speeding are suspected factors in the incident.
“It goes both ways,” Driscoll said. “Cars have to watch out for bikes, but bikes have to watch out for cars.”
jromeo@durangoherald.com
