Cyclist Recovering After Hit By Man Suspected Of DWI
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DALLAS (CBS11) - A Dallas woman is facing a long road to recovery, after she was hit by a suspected drunk driver.
Deb Culbertson, 26, was riding her bicycle home from work on the evening September 9th, when police say a man plowed through a red light on Munger Avenue, and struck her.
Police arrested John Cullins, 24, of Royse City, charging him with Driving While Intoxicated and Intoxication Assault. He remains in the Dallas County Jail, as of Monday afternoon.
Culbertson is an avid cyclist. She gave up her car a few years ago, in favor of cycling around the City of Dallas.
Her maps are all planned around routes where she can safely ride her bike. She also volunteers with RETREET – a nonprofit group of tree and bicycle enthusiasts who volunteer to replant in communities whose trees have been lost to disaster.
"I ride every day. I ride to work, I ride to get groceries for myself, and I ride just to hang out with friends," she said.
She was on the Santa Fe Trail, making her way from Uptown to her home in Lakewood when the crash happened. It was 7:30 at night. Culbertson wore her bike helmet and had her bike light turned on.
She says she stopped at the Munger Avenue crossing and double checked to make sure she had the right of way. The first three lanes of traffic were stopped for the red light, so she rode into the intersection.
Before she made it to the other side, a driver hit her.
"It was the last row. The driver did not stop and he hit me," Culbertson said.
She says her memories of the crash are spotty, which may be good.
The impact broke her leg, and caused a concussion. She has serious scrapes and bruises all over her arms, back and legs. Doctors put her into a medically induced coma, out of concern for swelling on her brain.
Holding her helmet, with a large scratch on the side, she says: "It's just a way to remember how lucky I am right now."
It is frustrating for her knowing that the person behind the wheel was arrested for driving under the influence.
"It's frustrating because people make those decisions without thinking about the consequences. At the same time, it would have had to be someone intoxicated, or not in their right state of mind to do what they did," she said.
"I just think people should be aware of their surroundings. Aware of what they're doing and follow the laws. Be aware and have empathy for the drivers and cyclists around you," Culbertson said.
Culbertson says family and friends have stepped up to help her until she can ride again.
She's halfway through a six-week healing process for her broken leg. Physical therapy will follow.
"Because of the fracture and overall pain from the impact, I'm still a lot weaker than I was before," Culbertson said.
As for her bicycle – she says she has not seen it since the crash – but the cycling community is stepping up to help her.
A friend set up a GoFundMe account to help Culberston pay for her hospital bills.
Friends of the Santa Fe Trail, a non-profit whose mission it is to promote use of the trail and build community around it, offered to purchase a new bike. The Richardson Bike Mart also offered to help.
Then another company stepped in. Culberston says Specialized, the manufacturer of her old bicycle, wants to help after a local cyclist reached out on her behalf.
"As soon as I can, I'm going to be out on the roads again," she said.
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