WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Family members of a 45-year-old man who was hit and killed while riding his bike to work are speaking out. Christopher Razny died Tuesday, May 21, after being hit by a semi-truck in the 3600 block of Platt Springs Road in Lexington.
It was a normal Tuesday morning for Terri Razny and her brother.
"He said, 'Hey sis, I got to go to work,' and I said I do too. I said have a good day, and he went his way, and I went mine," Razny said.
But that all shifted about four hours later.
"It's just weird that now I'm not going to see him anymore," Razny said.
Terri got a call from her sister and learned that her brother, Christopher Razny, died while riding his bike to work around 7 a.m. The Lexington County coroner said he was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer.
"He was funny. And he was great with animals, people, and he was just fun to be around. And now, it's just, it's hard," Razny said. "My brother spent a whole week before he got this job trying to find the best possible route so he was safe to get back and forth to work, and it obviously wasn't good enough."
Cycling advocate Cliff Corley said that Christopher was doing everything he was supposed to.
"The law says that we are to ride in the lane, and that we have the same responsibilities and rights to the lane, unless there's a bike lane, right here, we have to ride in that bike lane," Corley said.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) said drivers must be less distracted and more careful.
"Just be aware that you're going to see an increase of people on bikes, and we have to share the road with these bicyclists, so we need to make sure that we're being observant of the speed limit, not speeding excessively, making sure we're eliminating our distractions while we're driving. Put the cell phone down, pay attention to the road ahead of you," Trooper William Bennett said.
Terri said that now, it's her mission to email lawmakers and join cycling advocates in honor of her brother.
"I believe that the bike paths should be made a little bit safer, widened, or maybe a guard rail in between some areas where there is so much traffic," Razny said.
SCHP is still investigating this accident. If you were a witness or have any knowledge relating to this accident, you can submit tips by calling *HP.
Corley said that if anyone is interested in having him speak to a classroom, business, driver's education class or any other group about cycling safety, he'd be more than happy to. His email is palmettopedalers@gmail.com.