N.C. State Student Charged in Bicyclist Crash

Raleigh, N.C. — A North Carolina State University student apparently had been celebrating his 21st birthday, investigators said, before he struck a bicyclist near campus late Wednesday morning. The victim was transported to WakeMed, where she died.

According to a Raleigh police report, Brian Anthony Reid, 21, of 310 S. Sixty Court in Graham, had a strong odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, slurred speech and admitted he had been drinking. He registered 0.12 in an alcohol breath test.

Reid was charged with one count each of driving while impaired, felony assault by motor vehicle and failure to reduce speed.

The crash happened shortly before 11 a.m., police said, when the Ford F-150 Reid was driving struck Nancy Antoine Leidy near N.C. State at Nazareth Street and Crusader Drive.

Leidy, 60, was taken to WakeMed in Raleigh. She died at 7:45 p.m., a hospital spokesperson said.

She was riding on the right-hand side of the road and was wearing a helmet, police said.

Reid, a junior engineering major at N.C. State, was released on a $10,000 secured bond Wednesday evening.

His first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.

At the Wake County magistrate's office Wednesday afternoon, Reid's father called the crash "an unfortunate accident" and said "our prayers are with the family."

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Latest Comments

If they ever let this guy drive again...

stevo9er
April 24, 2008 8:25 p.m.

"Ok, fair enough. When your bike taxes pay enough money to pave and maintain roads then I'll give you "more rights."

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Ah, the old standby complaint. 1) Vehicle and fuel taxes are NOT the only source of road funding 2) Every dollar I spend goes to a company that does pay vehicle and fuel taxes. EVERY single one. The food I eat, my electric bill, the clothes I wear. They all have built-in taxes.

3) I don't believe you. If a bicycle tax was enacted tomorrow you will still have a problem with cyclists on the road. Yours is just an argument that people use to keep from saying what they really feel. You're simply annoyed that they're on the road in the first place. Why not just say that instead of using the false tax argument?

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None of this changes the fact that Nancy was killed by Brian.

jsnavely
April 24, 2008 9:45 a.m.

"I support bikers and try to be very careful around them. However, a week ago, I saw a biker on Falls of Neuse going south during the morning rush hour--that is just plain not a good idea--even cars are in danger because it's so congested. We need to use common sense...SP2G"

Since that was almost definitely me... what's your point? I was legally on a road I'm 100% entitled to ride on, and do so every day. Since you're so concerned about my safety, I'm sure you won't mind taking an alternate route to help ease the congestion from now on.

Why is this always the reaction people have to these events? A drunk driver MURDERED a cyclists in broad daylight. Everyone wants to feel sorry for him, complain about cyclists on the road, and forget that he's a cold-blooded killer. If he had killed her with anything other than a car, noone would bat an eye. Why is murder by car acceptable to so many?

jsnavely
April 24, 2008 9:23 a.m.

What a sad ending. I hope the officers crossed their Ts and dotted their Is with the DWI procedures. There are more loopholes to get out of a DWI than any other charge out there.

CSMs Alter Ego
April 23, 2008 9:56 p.m.

"Also do some research and find out WHY roads were paved to begin with...so bicycles would be able to use them! Imagine that!"

I've never seen any bikes on the I-40.

CSMs Alter Ego
April 23, 2008 9:54 p.m.