SAN ANTONIO -- Stepping outside a University Hospital room, briefly, Veronica Kinney said she couldn’t shake the sounds or images of her friend being hit by a pick up truck Wednesday afternoon along the access road of I-10 West near Fair Oaks.
"As I was trying to process what happened, what the noise was, I saw Monica flew off her bike," she said.
Now friends and other cyclists are trying to raise awareness about safety and raise money to help the single mother of two.
"There has got to be a way to make it better for everybody so that this doesn't happen routinely," said Jimmy Britton.
The owner of Britton’s Bicycle Shop said he received many messages from cyclists who were upset after hearing about the accident that left the 39 year old victim with a severe spinal cord injury.
One cyclist told Britton is is done with cycling and planned sell his bike.
"I was brain-numb when I heard about the accident, " said Britton.
He trained with Caban who was preparing for her second Ironman Competition.
"She asked my why this happened. I said I don't know why. But I know God is with you and I know he has a plan,” said Kinney.
Kinney said Caban is a single mother who was laid off from work.
Just before the accident, Kinney told us her friend was very excited about a job interview that same day.
Cyclists, friends and strangers have raised money to help Caban through
ActiveGiving.
On October 24th,
Bike Texas is working with others to host an event about bicycle safety.
The special guest, Tracy Hadden Loh, will speak about
Federal Bicycle Transportation Funding: What it Means for Texas.The event is at 6:30 in the
VIA community room at 1021 San Pedro.
