A north St. Louis County cyclist who rode his bike to work every day was left in the roadway after a car hit him on April 30, and now a woman has been charged in connection with his death. The victim died at a hospital after rescuers found him lying in the street, and the case had largely played out behind the scenes until police went public with photos of a vehicle of interest.
Prosecutors filed charges Tuesday against a woman tied to the fatal crash, according to the St. Louis Post‑Dispatch. The collision happened about 8:30 a.m. on April 30 in the 2200 block of Hudson Drive near Halls Ferry Road, where officers found 67‑year‑old Mark Ryan in the street. He later died at a hospital, as reported by KMOV.
Police located the vehicle, investigators say
Investigators had asked the public to help identify a black 2014 Chevrolet Sonic that was labeled a vehicle of interest in the case. "The St. Louis County Police Department said it has located the car, but has no suspects in custody at this time," KMOV reported. Detectives from the department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons and its Accident Reconstruction unit are handling the investigation, RiverBender reported.
Family and neighbors mourn
"Nobody deserves to die like that. Nobody," the victim's brother told the St. Louis Post‑Dispatch. Neighbors told the paper Ryan was a fixture in the area, a daily cyclist who loved comic books and had followed the same route for years.
Why the charge now
The new charge comes after months of investigative work and public pleas for help, including a call for residents to come forward if they recognized the car in released photos. Police say developments followed after the vehicle was located and evidence was examined, and that those leads ultimately set the stage for prosecutors to move forward with charges.
Legal note
Under Missouri law, leaving the scene of an accident that results in a death is a felony offense. Missouri Revised Statutes §577.060 defines the crime, and a conviction for a class D felony carries potential prison time under the state's sentencing rules.
How to help
Anyone with information about the crash or the vehicle is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1‑866‑371‑8477 or the St. Louis County Police Department at 636‑529‑8210, RiverBender reported. Police say tips can be shared anonymously and may be eligible for a reward.
