A Body on the Bike Path

After a 2 week hiatus to heal from wounds sustained in 2 crashes on black ice, I was back at it on Monday. It was cold, but dry, and the ride in was invigorating. It was still daylight when I left for home at the end of the workday, so I decided to take the Olentangy bikepath instead of my normal winter route up High Street. As I crossed Long Street, a jogger coming in the opposite direction yelled, "They've got the path blocked up ahead and you may not get through." A TV news van parked on the bike path further piqued my interest so I decided to check it out. 

200 yards down the path a Grandview police cruiser was blocking the path and the officer told me I'd have to turn around. "What's up?" I asked. "Crime scene," was his curt reply. I turned around and headed back to HIgh Street. As I passed the TV crew I asked them if they knew what was going on. "They found a body near the bikepath." "Not a bicyclist?"I gasped. "No, the body's been there awhile, but they think it might have been a homeless person."

As I rode on, I recalled the 1000's of times I have scanned the river on my way to and from work. I'm usually looking for wildlife, migratory birds and such.......but occasionally the thought has crossed my mind that someday I might see a body. Apparently a jogger discovered the body this week, but it just as easily could have been me. I imagine a gruesome discovery like this could haunt you for some time.

In my mind's eye, I replayed memories of all the homeless people that I've seen living along the Olentangy.  One man, in particular, came to mind. He lived under the Third Street Bridge for several years. He slept in a cardboard box on a narrow, 4 foot slice of ground between the fence bordering the bikepath and the river. With all the spots to select from, I always wondered why he chose this precarious one. I recall thinking, "Hell, he could roll over in his sleep and be right in the river."

Sometime in October I noticed that the man and his box were gone. I remember thinking,"That's good, he finally decided to move to a safer site." I pray that he did.

Comments

[Amy Conley]

I totally thought of you when I heard about this. Be safe!

[Jim Lane]

How can it be that you're no more than 100 yards from civilization (a road or an office or a home) most of the time while you're riding, and yet it seems that you're in the wilderness when it comes to safety like regular patrols and ice and snow clearing.

I hope this person did not suffer. You take care my friend.