What to Know
- A 66-year-old avid bike-rider was struck and killed in a hit-and-run on the Long Island Expressway
- David Schlichting, of Great Neck, was struck on the LIE near the Great Neck High School, Nassau County police said
- The older model minivan did not stop to provide identification, police said
A 66-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed on Sunday by a minivan that fled the scene, police said.
The cyclist, David Schlichting, of Great Neck, was struck on the Long Island Expressway near the Great Neck High School, Nassau County police said.
Schlichting was wearing a helmet, but suffered severe head trauma when he was thrown off his bicycle, police said.
Family and friends of Schlichting said he died doing what loved, riding his custom-made bike for hours, sometimes 50 miles a day.
Schlichting was involved in producing the Five Boro Bike Tour — the country's largest gathering of byciclists, according to Bike New York board chair Len Diamond.
"Dave was a long-time and much-loved part of our extended Bike New York family. We're outraged a driver could recklessly run him down and be so cowardly as to flee afterwards. We urge Nassau County authorities to stay on the case and ensure the driver is caught," Diamond said.
Bike New York President and CEO Ken Podziba shared similar sentiments calling Schlichting a "disciplined rider."
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Bike New York is a non-profit that teaches safe bicycling to people of all ages and abilities, and advocates for safe cycling conditions.
Each May Bike New York produces the TD Five Boro Bike Tour.
"He was an avid bike-rider," one neighbor said of Schlichting. "I hope they find the perp who did this. It's just not right."
The older model minivan did not stop to provide identification, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
