Spokane7
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March 4, 2010 in City
Bicyclist’s family: Death ‘just too tragic’
David Squires was struck and killed while bicycling Monday, Mar. 1, 2010.
(Full-size photo)
The bicyclist killed Monday in downtown Spokane was an electrician and father of six known for his sense of humor.
David L. Squires, 56, was known as “The Sheik” at his electrician job, according to his obituary.
His family said Wednesday they’re not ready to talk about him. “It’s still just too tragic,” said his wife of 19 years, Christy.
His obituary described Squires as a 1971 graduate of North Central High School with a great sense of humor and “a rare ability to capture your imagination with his story telling.”
“He lived an honest and simple life, with an open and generous heart,” his family wrote.
Squires was killed in what police describe as a drunken hit-and-run crash that led to the arrest of a Spokane Valley bar owner, Scott C. Reckord, 49.
Reckord posted $50,000 bond Tuesday after appearing in Spokane County Superior Court on charges of vehicular homicide and felony hit and run.
Reckord was arrested Monday night, accused of hitting Squires at Division Street and Sprague Avenue about 6:40 p.m.
Police said Reckord was driving a silver Dodge pickup north on one-way Division when turned left to go west on Sprague and collided with Squires in a crosswalk. Squires was knocked from his bicycle, then run over by the truck witnesses told police.
Witnesses told police the light was green for the northbound Division Street traffic, according to court documents. Reckord was arrested after police said he failed sobriety tests.
He’d returned to the scene after a driver, Bobby Curtis, and her husband, Jeffrey Curtis, followed him westbound on Sprague, flashing their lights and honking their horn to try to get his attention.
Bobby Curtis “confronted the defendant when they got back to the scene and he denied realizing he had hit anything,” according to court documents.
Squires was pronounced dead at a downtown hospital from skull fractures caused by blunt impact to the head, according to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Reckord owns Sullivan Scoreboard and is a partner in the LLC that owns Scotty’s Bar and Grill.
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msledder on March 04 at 1:55 p.m.
Just a sad thing all around. A man is dead and one has ruined his life and for what, A buzz.
tluv12 on March 04 at 7:36 p.m.
I feel bad for the family but both parties were at fault not just the driver. Its against the law to ride your bike on the sidewalks downtown. So why was the rider riding his bike in the crosswalk. You are taught as a kid to get off your bike and walk it across the street while in a crosswalk. Thats a poor intersection in the first place could have happened to anyone drunk or sober. The direction of Squires was not mentioned either. If you want to share the road follow the same laws as the motorist.
free_smiles on March 04 at 8:32 p.m.
how incredibly sad. my thoughts go out to his wife, children & friends. what a tragedy that could have been easily avoided by calling a cab.
Schrauf on March 04 at 9:29 p.m.
Hey tluv, check your knowledge of local regulations before blaming the victim. The downtown district for purposes of not being allowed to ride on the sidewalk begins several blocks west of Division, and is primarily in the shopping area.
Generally, riding on the road is safer, but sidewalks are a fine alternative for some people with less experience riding in traffic, or on especially nasty roads such as the Division/Browne couplet. Anyone who does ride on the sidewalk should be extra watchful for cross traffic and ride at no more than a quick walking pace, but without more facts David definitely cannot be accused of any fault in this incident.
1111 on March 04 at 10:21 p.m.
Schrauf, since when is riding a bike on the streets at dark, or any other time, safer than riding on a sidewalk? Do you commute?!! If there is traffic, I will ride the sidewalk, ticket or no. Folks in Spokane, from my experience, are not aware of riders and many don’t care. I have never heard of riding on the sidewalk being legal, but maybe it is in some areas. Spokane is a dangerous town to commute on a bike. Been there, got the t shirt.
jenniirv on March 04 at 10:27 p.m.
Honestly? You’re arguing about laws while a family is grieving their loved one.
Get off the internet and hug your families—you’re lucky to have them.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 05 at 12:02 a.m.
This type of thing happens multiple times daily in Manito, High Drive and everywhere I go when I’m in town. Bikers and pedestrians have come to believe they have special rights. And they do! It’s just that sometimes when a right is exercised, bad things happen. Better to be alive than dead but right. Careful out there…it’s dangerous. Don’t ride at night on a busy street.
Schrauf on March 05 at 6:52 a.m.
My condolences to the family and friends of the victim. I agree this is a poor forum to debate laws and such, but negating the spread of misinformation is important as well.
Jess - absolutely I ride in traffic in the dark, and I feel very safe. Bright lights front and rear are a given. Most motorists in this area are quite safe and polite. There will always be jerks in the population, whether that be drivers who think they own the road and have no regard for human life, or cyclists who think traffic laws do not apply to them.
Daisy - rights not exercised are frequently lost. It is possible to walk around this town exercising one’s right of way in crosswalks without putting one’s self in the way of harm. Similarly, the more bikes on the street, the safer the streets become, for both cyclists and motorists, as everyone becomes more aware.
bleckb on March 05 at 10:50 a.m.
As a regular bike commuter, and one who rides after dark fairly often, I agree whole wholeheartedly with Schrauf. If you have lights, and reflective bits on the bike and body, the roadways aren’t necessarily unsafe, but there are reasonable risks. I consider sidewalks the domain of walkers and roadways the domain of vehicles, however they may be powered. I have bright and blinking lights and reflective tapes and clothing, but still some people don’t see me. I have to be on the watch for that, but many drivers don’t see motorcycles, cars, trucks or buses before they collide.
Tluv12 is just wrong in his or her assertions. While the “commercial district” forbids cycling on sidewalks, this accident didn’t happen in that area. Besides, the law says that when a cyclist is in a crosswalk, they are legally a pedestrian, whether they are riding or walking their is legally immaterial, as is the time of day, the weather, or anything else. Crosswalks are not sidewalks.
The problem is, as drivers, cyclists or pedestrians, there are impaired drivers out there, whether drinking, texting, phoning, smoking, eating, changing radio stations or whatever. This is a sad situation all around, but much more so for the victim and his family, which is where my sympathies lie. I just wish other drivers would be deterred from drinking and driving by this, but there’s such an epidemic of that, I have little hope.
ackra on March 07 at 12:02 p.m.
Last year I lost a friend to a horrible bicycling accident when he was killed.
Had he signaled properly this accident may never have occurred.
Why turning signals are not a requirement for all bikes, I’ll never understand.
I purchased mine at safetybikesignals.com.
Gunslinger69 on March 11 at 4:07 p.m.
Dave was a wonderful human being, Father, Husband and friend.
I find it sad that folks here are debating whether he had any fault in this Tragic event. One of his daughters is a very good friend of mine and like a daughter I never had. She has informed me that he Was walking his bike when it occurred, but I can’t help but feel it doesn’t really make a difference in this event considering the man who Hit, Ran, and ultimately Killed him was drunk.
The next day, while his Wife of twenty years, six children, extended family and so very many friends were Mourning his Tragic Death, the man who killed him posted a measly $50 thou and walked free to re-enter the bar he owns. I find this absolutely Ludicrous!
At the very least he should be on house arrest and given sobriety tests daily to make sure he cannot Kill again before he is convicted for this Murder!
We are all still Mourning this special human being who will never again kiss his wife goodnight, tell his children how special they are to him and that he loves them, and laugh with good friends.
Meanwhile, Where is the man who murdered him? Most likely having a few drinks with HIS friends before going home to HIS wife and children. And undoubtedly driving drunk to get there!
kennyhuston on March 11 at 5:17 p.m.
What a tragic thing all the way around, and I totally agree with J Irv’s view. Now I’ll just quit typing and go hug my daughter. My heart goes out to Mr. Squires’ family.