90-year-old man charged in death of bicyclist in Eau Claire County

The 90-year-old Eau Claire man who struck and killed a bicyclist with his vehicle while driving June 29 on a bike path along Clairemont Avenue was charged Monday with two felonies.

Archie R. Vanwormer, 3488 Curvue Road, faces charges of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and hit-and-run involving death for causing the death of 51-year-old Kirk D. Cartwright of Eau Claire.

Vanwormer is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Thursday.

The charges were filed by Eau Claire County District Attorney Brian Wright.

Cartwright suffered a severe head injury and died at an Eau Claire hospital shortly after being struck from behind by Vanwormer's vehicle at about 12:30 p.m. as he rode his bicycle on the bike path along the 1100 block of West Clairemont Avenue.

Vanwormer's vehicle was traveling west on Clairemont when it entered the bike path at Hendrickson Drive and collided with Cartwright, who also was headed west. Police said Vanwormer's vehicle dragged the bicycle about 200 feet and continued driving on the path until Craig Road.

Driver, 90, charged in fatal crash

(c)2012 the Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.)

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