Sunset Hills Mayor who struck cyclist & fled scene had previous police run-ins; Charges may be filed soon

MoBikeFed has reported on the incident involving Sunset Hills Mayor Mark Furrer, who harassed cyclist Randy Murdick, struck him with his car, and then fled the scene. Listen to 911 tapes from the scene here.

We are asking cyclists from around Missouri to sign a petition urging Sunset Hills to take action to make the best of this situation by making substantial positive changes for cycling and also by investigating thoroughly and filing charges as warranted.

Sign the petition here. 

Cyclist Randy Murdick was struck by the Sunset Hills Mayor, who then fled the scene

Local cyclists organized a rally in the aftermath of the event and have done an amazing job in working with the city and using this unfortunate incident to raise the profile of cycling in the area.

Now KMOX is reporting that the Sunset Hills Mayor faced a series of police calls, some involving reckless or fast driving, previous to the encounter with cyclist Randy Murdick in July:

The Mayor of Sunset Hills is facing more questions about his driving record—even before he was accused of running a cyclist off the road in late July.

The Call newspaper is reporting police records shows Mayor Mark Furrer was accused in 2011 of getting into a physical argument with an 83-year-old man over a parking space at Friendship Village senior living center, and accused of driving recklessly through a construction zone there in 2012. . . . 

Attorney Michelle Funkenbush represents cyclist Randy Murdick in the July 29 incident.

“Basically, what it looks like to me is that he has road rage against the most vulnerable users of our roads—the elderly, our construction workers who are pedestrians walking on the road, and cyclists,” she says.

The county prosecutor could announce whether charges will be filed against Furrer next week.

The Call adds more details:

Like the bicyclist incident and the altercation with the elderly man, other events outlined in police logs also happened at or near Friendship Village, which is by Furrer's house.

In December 2012, construction workers on a $50 million Friendship Village villas expansion project called 911 two days in a row to complain that the future mayor was repeatedly recklessly driving and speeding through their construction zone in a yellow Smart car.

"Other people on that job saw him drive by there, and they said, 'Yeah, he flies through,'" Paul Shafer, who works for J.H. Berra Construction Co., told the Call. "I have no idea what the speed limit was — all I know is he was going much faster than anybody else that came through there."

Sign the Sunset Hills petition here. 

Creating safer roads for all road users, making our state transportation safer and more accessible for people who walk and bicycle, and seeking justice for pedestrians and cyclists who are injured and killed on our roadways are all important goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycing and Walking in Missouri. Your membership and generous financial support helps make our Vision become reality.