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January 2nd, 2007

"Wife of Man Killed on Bike Sues"

The wife of a police officer who was killed while riding a bicycle to raise money for dead fellow officers has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the operator of the truck that caused the accident.

Gary Dudley, 51, was killed when he was hit by a van that spun into them when it was hit by a truck.

Dudley had donated his time to the Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), which is a nonprofit support group for the families of officers who have died on the job. His widow, Carolyn Dudley, 43, hopes to pick up where he left off by donating a portion of the money she hopes to win in the lawsuit to them.

The Incident

Dudley was one of 10 bicyclists who were in the middle of a 1,100-mile bicycle ride fundraiser for the COPS charity. A truck hit the back of a support and escort van that was accompanying the cyclists and caused it to hit two cyclists.

The other cyclist who was hit, Lake County Police Chief Gary Martin, 63, also died.

The Lawsuit

Carolyn Dudley’s wrongful-death suit names the truck operator, Town Air Freight, as the defendant, according to Roy T. Tabor, Dudley’s attorney.

The driver of the van that was pushed into the cyclists was not charged with anything, nor named in the lawsuit.

What now?

“I have been on the outside looking in for the past several years as he played such an active role in raising the funds and awareness for this group of survivors,” said Carolyn Dudley. “I’ve played a passive role. Unfortunately by circumstance, I will be a very big part of them.”

Her lawyer said, “She was drawn into this reluctantly with this tragedy. We can try to make something good come from what is a very bad, very terrible event that no one should have to experience.”

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed at the hands of another, please contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you plan the best course of action. We can answer your questions, and help you recover the compensation you may be entitled to.