Idaho News: Hundreds ride in memory of cyclist hit by Hummer

Hundreds of cyclists from the Treasure Valley united Wednesday for a silent ride to show their respect and sympathy to Sarah Howard and her family. Howard was hit and killed last Friday by a driver in a Hummer while riding her bike near the intersection of Overland and Eagle in Meridian. Cyclists young and old rode in Howard’s honor.

“It seemed like maybe people would be better off getting together than trying to grapple with their grief alone,” cyclist George Knight said.

Knight organized Wednesday’s silent ride.

Although he and many of the riders never met Sarah or her family he says there is a community that brings them together.

“No amount of grief felt by the cycling community can possibly add up to the grief that family must be feeling,” he said. “I’m hoping that in doing this we can show a piece of sympathy and respect for that.”

In addition to showing sympathy and respect, cyclists also gathered to help raise awareness of bicycle safety.

“Anybody that rides a bike knows it can be dangerous, that not everybody takes the care around bicycles that they should, or I guess recognizes that bicycles have a right to the road too,” cyclist Gordon Hamilton said.

Howard’s husband Mike says he was just shocked that so many people around the Treasure Valley cared when he learned about today’s ride.

“Sarah touched a lot of people,” Mike Howard said. “I knew that, but then… I didn’t either, I didn’t know how much. I just didn’t know the impact that she’d had on so many people’s lives.”

Now five days after the accident no charges have been filed for 43 year-old Erika Janzen, the woman police say was driving the SUV that hit and killed Howard.