NC mental health director killed in biking collision with logging truck

Raleigh, N.C. — The head of North Carolina's mental health services was killed Wednesday afternoon when a logging truck collided with the bicycle he was riding in north Raleigh.

Raleigh police said late Wednesday that Steven Laverne Jordan, 49, of Raleigh, died at the scene on Louisburg Road near Perry Creek Road.

Both Jordan and the truck, driven by Clifton Paul Ellis, 28, of Kenly, were traveling northbound when the wreck occurred around 2:15 p.m.

The case is still under investigation, and charges are pending, police said.

Jordan had been the director of the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services since 2010.

According to its website, he also served as the state director of ResCare-North Carolina, where he managed programs for people with disabilities.

He was a graduate of Charleston Southern University, where he received his Bachelor's degree and the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Master's degree in educational counseling.

He began his career in human services in 1982 as a mental health worker in Charleston, S.C.

Police have not released any other details about what happened.

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i have all but stopped riding my bike on public streets. Its too risky and dangerous anymore. i have one paved country road and my n'hood, i will ride due to the traffic is low and they usually don't try to kill you. I have seem impatient drivers almost run down dog walkers and baby strollers though. Its ashame you can't bike ride safetly in NC, biking is a great sport and exercise! US & NC are so backward in many ways.

marek335
July 11, 2012 12:48 p.m.

Looking at the area with google maps, it sure looks like a pretty poor choice (as in dangerous) of a place to ride a bike. I believe that a six lane (plus multiple turning lanes) highway would be about the last place I would be bicycling on. Also looks like there is a sidewalk on the east side of Louisburg Road through much of the area.

Not saying he didnt have a right to ride there, just that maybe a poor choice on his part contributed to the accident.

Goz
July 5, 2012 2:56 p.m.

Thanks to WRAL for not posting my comment after I re-read the guidelines and was within the character limit. First, Sympathies to the family, it need not have happened at all. It is illegal to ride a bicycle anywhere on an interstate, period. 401/Louisburg, 70/Glenwood, 50/Creedmoor, US1/Capital, etc are all interstates. An interstate is any highway that connects to another state. Look it up. Stop riding on state highways and Interstates. Its the law and its not your right to put yourselves AND others at risk.

LogicRules
July 5, 2012 1:52 p.m.

Cyclists pay for the roads too. You hit one ... YOU WILL PAY BIG.

bombayrunner
July 5, 2012 1:34 p.m.

Cyclists who "take the lane" instead of staying to the very far right do so for safety.

It is not a threat to cars but an essential move when there is not enough shoulder.

It is better to have a car follow at 10 miles per hour for a few seconds until the adjacent lane is open to pass than to have a vehicle misjudge the distance he needs to move over to safely pass.

annaprivette
July 5, 2012 11:48 a.m.