Man Riding Bike in Sterling Heights Killed in Accident

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. - There was a deadly accident Wednesday in Sterling Heights. The victim was known for riding his bike everywhere. FOX 2 has learned the woman accused of hitting him has a bad driving record.

Police say Julia Werth was traveling eastbound on 18 Mile between Mound and Ryan when she dropped something in her car. When she went to pick it up, she allegedly veered off the road and struck a 54-year-old man, who happened to be riding his bike on the gravel shoulder just a few feet ahead.

Jill Yurich remembers the sound of ambulances rushing to the scene.

"After my husband and I heard three, four, five, I said something's really close. He walked to the door and said, 'Honey, it's right out front. There's a man (lying) on the ground.' Then when the ambulance drove up, the just all circled the man, moved very quickly," she said.

Crews rushed the victim to Troy Beaumont Hospital, but he did not survive.

It is a somber day for some in Sterling Heights that fondly remember this man who would always ride his blue mountain bike up and down 18 Mile. FOX 2's Taryn Asher was told the man was homeless and had several plastic bags tied to the front of his bicycle.

"That's how he lived. That's probably everything he owned was in those plastic bags hanging off the front of the bike," Yurich said.

FOX 2 has learned Werth, the woman accused in this fatal accident, is 20 years old. We found out she has twelve points on her driving record for two alcohol violations, two speeding tickets and a car accident.

It is now clear if Werth will face any criminal charges.

At the very least, this accident serves as a reminder for any motorist.

"We have two grown children that we tell the same thing to all the time. Don't let anything take your eyes off the road. This poor man who had nothing already now is gone," said Yurich.