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Slavin Peter Marc July 22, 1941 - March 29, 2019 Peter was cycling in the Northern Virginia countryside, when he was struck from behind by a driver on Sunday March 24 and fatally injured. Shaker Heights High, Dartmouth, LSE, his stories were the result of diverse interests and a recognition of people and events that needed to be told: mountaintop removal, West Virginia, Sarajevo, North Korean refugees, Harriet Tubman. "So many stories, so little time." Survived by his wife of 39 years, Susan Robertson Slavin, his brother John (Deborah) of Freeport, ME and his sister Suzy (Montreal, Canada).
UPDATE: The cyclist injured in a March 24 collision on Halfway Road in The Plains has died, according to Fauquier County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. James Hartman.
Peter Slavin, 77, of Oakton, was flown to INOVA Fairfax Hospital Sunday evening after suffering significant brain injury when his bicycle and a 1998 Volvo collided on Halfway Road at approximately 5 p.m., said Hartman. Slavin died March 29 at INOVA Fairfax Hospital, he reported.
ORIGINAL STORY: The driver of the 1998 Volvo that struck a bicyclist on Halfway Road in The Plains last Sunday has been charged by Fauquier County authorities with a misdemeanor.
Babette Alliger, 59, of Culpeper and Middleburg, is charged with reckless driving, a class 1 misdemeanor, the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday. She was released on a summons to appear in court.
According to the cyclist's family, the 77-year-old sustained significant brain injury and remained on life support in a Fairfax hospital.
Deputies were called to the crash at 4:59 p.m. on March 24. Alliger was driving a 1998 Volvo north on Halfway Road near Herringdon Road and attempted to pass the bicyclist, who was also traveling north. The Volvo and the bicyclist collided, causing the bicyclist to lose control and fall to the road, according to Hartman.
Halfway Road was closed for more than an hour while deputies examined the crash scene.
Hartman pointed out that Virginia law says that all persons riding a bicycle on a highway are “subject to the provisions of the Code of Virginia sections on motor vehicles and shall have the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, unless a provision clearly indicates otherwise.”
However, he added that Virginia law also requires any driver of any vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction to pass at a reasonable speed at least 3 feet to the left of the overtaken bicycle. The car may not move to the right side of the highway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle.
Hartman said that the last crash involving a bicyclist in Fauquier was in the Delaplane area in September 2018, when it is believed a Nokesville man was struck and killed by an unknown motorist. That crash is under investigation by the Virginia State Police.
Hartman said, prior to that, a local man was killed on Crest Hill Road near Hume in June 2013, when his bicycle was struck from behind by a pickup truck.
Fourteen fatal bicycle accidents occurred on Virginia roads in 2017, according to state records.
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Gerald A Pearson
I've looked up what Pete was doing as a professional free-lance journalist. An overview (as he wrote). Open the LINK.
From 2006-2009 he visited/wrote articles (at least four) about W. Virginia's coal miner country history. Just one example. Open the LINK.
Gerald A Pearson
In 1962 Pete, Stu Levitt and I took a 7,000 mi/2½ week long whirlwind trip together out West. "What a fabulous hoot" traveling an averaging of 400 mi./day (well into the night) excluding time at each stop! Included being razzed by loggers in a rural Washington state bar. Sneaking into architect FL Wright's Marin County Civic Center (N. of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge) while under construction. 1-2 hr. stops each at Montana's Glacier National Park, Yosemite (along with 40,000 other visitors on that Labor Day), Las Vegas (at night, then sleeping on Lake Mead's beach until the blazing sun woke us up around 6:30 AM) and the Grand Canyon at sunset.
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Frank Boldizar
While I didn't know Pete very well I thought very highly of him. His interest in the West Virigina coal workers brought back memories of when my sister and I adopted a coal minors family through Save The Children and I bought clothing for family of 7 at Higbee outlet store and drove it down to them. You couldn't even see through rear view window as back seat was so piled up with clothing. Paul Newman was a very big on Save The Children as 90% of all donations goes to the recipitants . I also sponsored a little girl in Nepal and my sister sponsored a little girl in Thailand and she went over and visited both of them. I highly recommend getting involved with the organization as it does so much good. Hope all Shakerites of 59 are fine. Look forward to seeing you at 60. Frank
Gerald A Pearson
Peter and I together at our 50th class reunion (2009).
Peter C. Brown
Thanks very much for the picture Gerald. Peter visited me here several times and we rode our bicycles together. I miss him a lot. He and I paddled a canoe together at camp when in ninth grade, and we always had a friendship. I've read several of his articles and admired his tenacity and willingness to dig out an issue. May he be remembered well by all who knew him.
Peter B