David D. Hammar Foundation Press Releases
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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