David D. Hammar Foundation Press Releases
Bicycle Safety Day puts emphasis on wearing helmets
By MELANIE HIRSHBERG • STAFF WRITER • June 15, 2009
The Long Valley resident was struck by a car while cycling on Parker Road in May 2008, fracturing his pelvis and breaking his leg. His injuries required numerous surgeries to correct.
"Everyone from the EMTs to the doctors said, 'You are so lucky you were wearing your helmet,' said Jerry, 44, who will participate in a charity ride and Bicycle Safety Day on June 28, at Long Valley's Rock Spring Park.
The event will be hosted by the David D. Hammar Foundation, named after another township resident who was struck by a vehicle while he was bicycling. But Hammar was not wearing a helmet and died of a brain injury the morning after the Sept. 21, 2006, accident in Long Valley.
Jerry is on the board of directors of the Hammar Foundation, which was established by David Hammar's daughter, Allison, and her husband, Michael Savino, in January 2007 in memory of her father.
"David was an inspiration to his family and friends throughout his life and now through his death," Allison Hammar said about her father on the foundation's Web site.
Based in Long Valley, the foundation's main goal is to give away helmets to local children. The foundation also travels to numerous events every year to raise awareness about bicyclists and bicycling safety. Its members have worked to get bike lanes, crossings and road signs put in around their area.
The foundation also offers scholarships to local student athletes, Jerry said.
"Our goal is to promote safety measures so that the kind of thing that happened to my father doesn't happen again," Allison Hammar said. "We want to raise awareness from both ends, the drivers and the bicyclists."
The Ride for Awareness and Bicycle Safety Day features a 30.9-mile ride in the morning, followed by a children's safety event. The ride will begin and end at Rock Spring Park. The riders will be escorted by Sgt. Douglas Compton of Washington Township's Community Policing Unit.
Jerry, who is helping to organize the event, said cyclists of all skill levels can attend, though preregistration is required.
Following the ride, children can attend a free safety event, where the foundation will offer free helmets and fittings. Cycle Works, the event's sponsor, will have safety demonstrations and tune up bicycles. When not learning about bicycle safety, children also can participate in an obstacle course and a bike raffle.
"This event is to help get the word out about cycling safety," Jerry said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 698 bicyclists were killed in traffic accidents in 2007. Of those deaths, 13 were in New Jersey. Another 44,000 bicyclists were involved in traffic accidents and injured nationwide.
The NHTSA reports that helmets are the best way to avoid brain injuries when in a bicycle accident.
Melanie Hirshberg: 973-428-6610; mhirshberg@gannett.com
Bike safety promoted in aftermath of death.
Foundation is formed in Long Valley victim’s memory
By BOB THOMAS, Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:27 PM EDT
WASHINGTON TWP. – The tragic death of a Long Valley man is having a positive impact with the formation of a special bicycle safety foundation in his name.
David D. Hammar was just 56 when he started out his regular early morning bike ride last Sept. 21. It was just before dawn when he was struck on Route 513, West Mill Road, about three-quarters of a mile from his house.
Mr. Hammar left his wife, Debbie, and two children, Allison, 25, and Erik, 27.
“It was not too long after the accident when I was getting my life back on track that I thought of doing something,” said AllisonHammar.
“My dad was the same way. He liked to get moving on things.”
With the other family members and some friends and acquaintances, Allison Hammar incorporated the David D. Hammar Foundation in January.
“Our goal is to promote safety measures so that the kind of thing that happened to my father doesn’t happen again,” she said. “We want to raise awareness from both ends, the drivers and the bicyclists.”
Hammar said her father was riding without a helmet when he swerved into the lane occupied by a vehicle heading in the same direction as he was.
Many Affected
“It’s not just about my father. Anybody could be affected,” she said. “Accidents involving bicycles and cars not only affect the rider and the rider’s family. The person driving the car has to live the rest of their life knowing they were unintentionally involved in an accident with a bicyclist.
“We have talked a few times with the woman who hit my father, we’re concerned about her,” Hammar said.
No charges were brought against the driver, a Great Meadows resident.
Hammar said the foundation’s first goal is to encourage more people to wear helmets.
“We intend to buy helmets for those who can’t afford them,” she said.
She hopes to bring bicycle safety awareness programs to different towns in the area, giving short programs that will raise awareness of various safety issues.
One foundation member is Anthony Soriano, a Princeton Township resident. He has made Hammar aware of the many bicycle lanes that are found there, running parallel to busy roadways.
“We could use some of these lanes here,” Hammar said. “We have off-road bicycle trails but nothing on our roads themselves.”
When David Hammar was revived at the scene of the accident by paramedics, he was rushed by helicopter to Morristown Memorial Hospital where he clung to life for the rest of the day.
In the evening as Hammar began to show signs of losing his fight with severe brain trauma, his family arranged for organ donations to be made. Three people’s lives benefited from this decision, one with a liver transplant and two who received Hammar’s kidneys.
Although the foundation is still in its infancy, Allyson Hammar said she hopes that organ donation can be another part of its goals.
“David was an inspiration to his family and friends throughout his life and now through his death,” his daughter said.
Among the other goals of the young foundation are to support local rescue squads, support local humane societies and provide high school scholarships for outstanding student athletes.
Hammar is working with Walk-Bike New Jersey and has a website at daviddhammarfoundation.org.
The organization has been offered the use of space at the Middle Valley Community Center. She said she hopes to offer a series of safety seminars.
http://www.recordernewspapers.com/articles/2007/08/15/observer-tribune/news/doc46c348ea730e8288722667.txt
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