By Ashley Hungerford
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
KENNESAW - The driver of a pickup truck who police say was involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash early Friday is under arrest after turning himself in to Kennesaw Police.
Howard Rouen, 32, of Kennesaw, notified police on Sunday that he owned a truck matching the description he had heard in media reports of the crash.
Police say bicyclist John Wigren, 64, of Kennesaw was waiting to cross Cherokee Street at McCollum Parkway, near Wade Green Road, at 12:18 a.m. Friday when a red truck heading east on Cherokee hit the back of his bicycle. Wigren was taken to Kennestone Hospital, where he died.
Heavy fog likely was a factor in the accident, according to police.
Rouen is being held at the Cobb County Jail without bond. He is charged with vehicular homicide and duty in accident resulting in death, both felonies. He also is charged with several misdemeanors including driving too fast for conditions, failure to maintain lane and duty to report an accident.
Wigren was riding his bike home from his job at the Shell gas station at the corner of Kennesaw-Due West Road and Cobb Parkway, Luther said, noting Wigren was a familiar face in downtown Kennesaw. Wigren made the trek regularly for more than two years, Luther said.
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I have been thinking about cycling my 7 mile commute to work using that exact same intersection. It just goes to show that there needs to be more provisions for cyclist that can ensure their safety. My heart goes out to his loved ones.
How convenient ... wait a few days for the alcohol to flush from your system.
I frequently ride my 6.5 mile (each way) commute to work. There's a bike path on Atlanta Rd which dumps you out into traffic on Windy Hill. I stopped going that way after getting sideswiped by somebody in a SUV. The Smyrna cops came out and said "so what? it was an accident!" and let the driver go without so much as a reprimand to be more careful. The driver didn't stop until we hit heavy traffic up the road and she realized she was entirely stuck. Did they charge hit and run? Hell no. I, the bicyclist, was not dead so it didn't matter in the slightest to the cop. The encounter with the cop went about like "heavy sigh & eye roll from the cop, then the cop apologizing to the driver for the crazy bicycler who has no business being in the road or expecting his body not to be struck by SUVs." I wonder if "it was an accident" works when somebody sideswipes an officer on the side of the road ticketing somebody? I am betting not.
WHEN CAN WE START SEEING SOME BIKE LANES COBB COUNTY????????
I am saddened by this tragedy especially because I know the driver and know that he has a long road ahead on how to deal with what has happened. I am sure that this really was a horrific accident. I feel so sorry for the family of the deceased and I also feel sorry for the driver's family. There are no winners only losers. A man lost his life and a his family and friends will miss him. Another man made the wrong choice and now his children will suffer too.....and they will miss him. I pray for both John Wigren and I pray for Howard Rouen.