INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis woman is sharing what happened to her husband while biking on the Monon Trail.
She wants others to be more cautious and she wants the City of Indianapolis to make safety improvements.
Katie Swaney's husband Jack rides his bike every night. "He's usually gone a few hours. It's pretty standard. And then around 9:30, I started realizing he wasn't home," said Katie Swaney.
But last Wednesday evening, he never made it back. A call from IU Methodist Hospital informed Swaney that her husband was hit by a motorcycle while riding the Monon Trail, crossing a detour area on East 38th Street near the fairgrounds.
Jack Swaney was rushed into surgery with two collapsed lungs, a compound fracture in his femur, his spleen removed, four broken ribs, and more. He was even on a ventilator at one point. The motorcyclist was also injured.
And because of COVID-19 restrictions, Katie could not visit her husband.
This isn't the first crash she's seen on the Monon Trail. "I just can't even count anymore how many accidents we have seen," she said. She feels signage isn't very clear, alerting drivers to watch for pedestrians. "I would love to see a stop sign. Minimally, some kind of signage that is very clearly stated who has the right away that drivers can see."
Swaney said pedestrians and bicyclists are often put at risk at the busy intersections.
"I mean obviously nobody is walking out or biking out onto traffic on purpose. And then a car just comes barreling around the corner. 52nd is terrible as a driver as well. You can't see past the bushes, you can't see when there's people coming," said Swaney.
The only encouraging news she got from the city was that a new bridge is being built to carry the Monon Trail over 38th Street.
Swaney's message to motorists is clear: "Slow down. There is nothing that is worth life. There's absolutely nothing."
Ben Easley, a spokesperson for Indy DPW issued the following statement to WRTV about the Monon Trail bridge project:
"Indy DPW is indeed committed to safety along our city’s trails, and that includes the construction of a $5.5 million bridge to bring pedestrians and cyclists over the busy 38th Street intersection, The new bridge structure can be seen in the background of the video package, and final completion on the project is expected before the end of the year. Additionally, standard signage at intersections along the Monon Trail may include flashing beacons or high-visibility signage which reads “Yield to pedestrians within crosswalk” or similar, in accordance with state law. Indiana Code 9-21-8-36 (see below) basically states that vehicles must yield to pedestrians within a crosswalk: 'Except as provided in IC 9-21-17-8 and IC 9-21-3-7(b)(4)(C). when traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation, a person who drives a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if necessary to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching closely from the opposite half of the roadway.' We continue to urge motorists to comply with this state law and all street signage. We also encourage trail users to be watchful at intersections, using an abundance of caution even if it seems like a motorist is slowing to yield the right-of-way."
