Tim Pincikowski

I am struck today by the passing of Tim Pincikowski - the suddenness of his death is terrible. He was such a good and decent man. It is a great tragedy.


It must have been a terrible accident, and I don't know how it could have happened. It seems this is a dangerous stretch of road.


His death is so needless. So terrible for his wife, son and especially small daughter.



It seems the van was following Tim, who was on his bike, and a car came from the opposing direction. The van drifted too close to the shoulder, and the accident occurred.



Here are the accounts from Ann Arbor.com

News Report on Ann Arbor.com
A bicyclist died after being struck by a vehicle at about 5 p.m. Tuesday on Maple Road, Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety officials said.


Police said the bicyclist was Timothy Pincikowski, a 45-year-old from Saline. The crash occurred on Maple Road between Travis Pointe Road and Ellsworth Road.

Police did not release further details Wednesday morning on what caused the crash. No information on the driver of the vehicle was available.

|Photo by Melanie Maxwell|

AnnArbor.com:


Timothy Pincikowski liked the outdoors and had been biking heavily this summer to stay in shape, his wife said.

Every other weekday, he biked about 25 miles. On a weekend day, it wasn't unusual for him to bike more than 50 miles, said Lisa, his wife of 13 years.

But Timothy Pincikowski's bike ride Tuesday turned tragic when he was killed in a crash with a minivan on Maple Road in Pittsfield Township. Police are still working to determine what caused the crash.
"He's a wonderful man, wonderful husband, wonderful father. Loved by everybody," Lisa said.

Pincikowski, 45, of Saline, was riding his bicycle north on Maple Road south of Ellsworth Road when the rear end of it was struck by the front passenger side of a 2002 Dodge Caravan, which was traveling in the same direction, police said.

No citations have been issued at this point, said Gordy Schick, the township's deputy director of police services.

Pincikowski was rushed to University of Michigan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, police said.

The driver of the van - a 20-year-old Clinton man - was not injured in the 5:07 p.m. incident, Schick said. There's no indication speed, wet roads or alcohol were factors, Schick said.

It's unclear whether Pincikowski was wearing a helmet or if the van's driver was wearing a seat belt, Schick said.

Tim Pincikowski worked as a project manager/chemist at BASF in Wyandotte, his wife said. The couple, who live in the Wildwood subdivision, moved to Saline from Racine, Wisc., about two years ago because of a job transfer.

Tim Pincikowski enjoyed spending time with his 18-year-old son, Michael, and 4-year-old daughter, Lauren.

He often took Lauren swimming, brought her to the park or out to watch 3-D movies.

Lisa Pincikowski said she'll miss their nights together.

"Tom and I loved our nights out, going out to dinner and a movie," she said.

Prime rib was one of his favorites, she said. Neighbors have been stopping by the home all day, bringing food.

"We've been very fortunate here," she said.

It's the sixth fatal accident in the township this year, police said.

The accident is the first fatal bicycle crash in Pittsfield since 2003, according to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

Ed Vielmetti of AnnArbor.com contributed to this story.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2527 or leehiggins@annarbor.com.

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There will be a service on Saturday, August 8th, in Racine, Wisconsin at:

Maresh Meredith & Aklam Funeral Home
803 Main Street
Racine, WI 53403

Visitation from 3-5pm
Service at 5:00pm
Dinner at Infusino's afterwards

Tim will be cremated in Michigan, but there is no plan for a service in Michigan.

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Click for Tim's Obituary.

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There is a bike ride in honor of Tim and to focus attention on bike safety.

August 18th, at 5 PM, from Pioneer High School to the site of the
accident.

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Look at the comments on this post. I welcome your comments.