Bike collision near Davis High School results in fatality

 A 60-year-old nurse was killed in the collision, with the other rider sustaining injuries

By CARLO FALLA — city@theaggie.org

On March 2, a fatal bicycle accident occurred on Covell Boulevard at 2:48 p.m., according to the Davis Police Department. Julie Veress, a 60-year-old nurse, was killed in the collision and pronounced dead at the scene. Another victim of the incident, a 16-year-old boy, was sent to the hospital with minor injuries. 

The crash occurred on a designated bike path near Davis High School. The boy, who was riding an electric bicycle, has been cooperative with investigators. The identity of the boy remains anonymous, given that he is a minor. 

Lieutenant James MacNiven of the Davis Police Department spoke to KCRA3 on March 3, explaining that the investigation is ongoing.

“At this point in the investigation, we don't know the context of the actions between the two parties that led up to this terrible and tragic incident,” MacNiven said.

Veress worked at the Sutter Davis Hospital as a registered surgery nurse. She was also a mother of two and an avid biker in the Davis community. 

In a statement, Sutter Health spoke regarding the passing of Veress. 

“We are heartbroken by the loss of a valued member of our team following a tragic incident in the Davis community," the statement reads.

Davis is often regarded as the “Bicycle Capital of America.” Around 50% of students on campus utilize bikes to get around town and the university campus, with 12% of Davis adults commuting by bike within the city. Despite the bike culture and infrastructure embedded in the streets of the city, accident rates have been shown to increase, with collision rates rising by 43% in 2022 compared to 2019.

The Davis Institute of Transportation Studies conducted a study based on accident rates in 2021. The study found that based on a projected population of e-bike users, 7.3% would be injured and admitted to the hospital on campus, while another 27% off campus would need to visit the emergency room with injuries, but not be admitted. The off-campus rate of e-bike collisions was significantly higher than the 12.9% for traditional bicycles. 

Lieutenant John Evans of the Davis Police Department commented on bike safety protocols in a web article.

“At this time we don’t have anything further to offer except that we ask everyone to keep themselves as safe as possible when riding their bikes, whether on the road or on bike paths,” Evans said. “Please wear your helmets, reflective clothing at night and when dark, follow the rules of the road and pay attention to what is going on around you.”

A memorial has been started on Covell Boulevard, where passersby can leave flowers and pay their respects in honor of Veress.

Written by: Carlo Falla — city@theaggie.org