Last Tuesday, a local cyclist by the name of Jack Pilecki was involved in a bad accident while cycling in the Seymour Demonstration Forest - as he and a friend rounded a corner they came upon a pair of rollerbladers, one of whom was in the wrong lane. Jack swerved to the right to go around her just as she moved to her left - resulting in a high speed collision. Though he was wearing a helmet, he sustained brain damage and a broken bone behind his left ear. His carbon frame broke in two places. He was taken to the hospital and stabiized, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and passed on Wednesday evening.
I can’t say that I knew Jack well, however he was the person who saw me making an ass of myself on my first trip out to the velodrome and came over to help me. While it would have been very easy to have simply told me to “get off the track”, instead he took 1/2 an hour to teach me the ins and outs of riding a banked track, what the lines were all about, and basic safety procedures. He made sure to come by and say hi every time he saw me thereafter, and introduced me to some other members of the club. I only wish I had known him better.
Though horribly premature, Jack’s life ended with a positive spin: he died doing what he loved, and through organ donations saved five other lives and gave eyesight to a sixth. “It’s what Jack would have wanted”, said his family when asked about their quick decision.
Khai, I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. Thank you for including the information about organ donation, it’s something we all need to be reminded of. Best wishes to you.
Really sad news. I knew Jack but hadn’t seen him in a few years. I heard about this a few days ago and was shocked to think this happened on a road closed to vehicles, where you think you’re safe. He always was a positive and upbeat guy when I spoke to him, so I guess it’s nice to know at least some good, in the form of the organ donation and transplants, came from it.
Really sad news. I knew Jack but hadn’t seen him in a few years. I heard about this a few days ago and was shocked to think this happened on a road closed to vehicles, where you think you’re safe. He always was a positive and upbeat guy when I spoke to him, so I guess it’s nice to know at least some good, in the form of the organ donation and transplants, came from it.
Greg.
Wow! Who would have thought such a tragic situation could result from a collision with a rollerblader. Very sad. Also on a road I would have deemed as very safe.
Apparently they were moving pretty fast. I hear the rollerblader is okay now, so it also could be a sort of freak accident with the way he hit the ground… I have no idea. I do know his new carbon frame cracked/broke in multiple places, so the impact was certainly significant…
I miss Jack. I didn’t know him well, but I miss him all the same.
