Cyclist dies after hit-and-run in East Louisville and father of three
A Louisville father-of-three died Friday afternoon after being hit by a suspected hit-and-run driver. According to the Louisville Metro Police, 61-year-old cyclist Joseph Greg Merz was riding on Old Brownsboro Hills Road when he was struck by a woman driving an SUV. “I woke up to the most heartbreaking news that he passed away this morning. The only reason I’m standing here is to work for road safety,” said Angel Ortega, who lives directly across from the Merz family. Ortega lives directly across from the Merz family, who moved to Louisville from Wisconsin a little over a year ago. Ortega says she and her family became fast friends with Greg and Amy Merz and their three children. “They are the best neighbors anyone could ask for. Greg is a grill master. I’m a chef myself. We’ve become fast food friends,” Ortega said. The good times ended abruptly on Friday afternoon. Ortega says her neighbor Greg was riding his bike down the driveway and onto Old Brownsboro Hills Road when the accident happened. Merz was admitted to the UofL hospital. Ortega says she was standing with Amy Merz when a surgeon came out to speak to the family. “He said he stopped the bleeding. He had lost a lot of blood. His liver had split in half. At that point, we were just like, “Not a concussion?” “He said no, he was working on the liver,” Ortega said. Despite the best efforts of UofL Health’s doctors and nurses, Greg Merz died early Monday morning. Now his neighbor is calling attention to what she believes is an ongoing problem on Old Brownsboro Hills Road: Distracted driving. “My mailbox was smashed a year and a half ago. It looked like he flew 30 feet in the air and hit the ground. I took that as a learning experience for my kids: Don’t get near that street,” said Ortega, who adds that the woman who allegedly hit Greg Merz lives in the neighborhood and is in her 80s. LMPD reports that the SUV failed to stop after the accident. The officials have contacted the woman who allegedly hit Merz. There was no arrest.
A Louisville father-of-three has died after being hit by a suspected hit-and-run driver on Friday afternoon.
According to the Louisville Metro Police, 61-year-old cyclist Joseph Greg Merz was traveling on Old Brownsboro Hills Road when he was struck by a woman driving an SUV.
“I woke up to the most heartbreaking news that he passed away this morning. The only reason I’m standing here is to advocate for road safety,” said Angel Ortega, who lives directly across from the Merz family.
Ortega lives directly across from the Merz family, who moved to Louisville from Wisconsin a little over a year ago.
Ortega says she and her family became fast friends with Greg and Amy Merz and their three children.
“They are the best neighbors anyone could ask for. Greg is a grill master. I’m a chef myself. We’ve become fast food friends,” Ortega said.
The good times came to an abrupt end on Friday afternoon.
Ortega says her neighbor Greg was riding his bike down the driveway and onto Old Brownsboro Hills Road when the accident happened. Merz was admitted to the UofL hospital.
Ortega says she was standing with Amy Merz when a surgeon came out to speak to the family.
“He said he stopped the bleeding. He had lost a lot of blood. His liver was split in half. At that point we were just like, ‘No concussion?’ “He said no, he was working on the liver,” Ortega said.
Despite the best efforts of UofL Health’s doctors and nurses, Greg Merz died early Monday morning.
Now his neighbor is drawing attention to what she believes is an ongoing problem on Old Brownsboro Hills Road: distracted driving.
“My mailbox was smashed a year and a half ago. It looked like he was thrown 30 feet into the air and hit the ground. I found that to be a learning experience for my kids: don’t go near that street,” says Ortega, who adds The woman who allegedly hit Greg Merz lives in the neighborhood and is in her 80s.
LMPD reports that the SUV failed to stop after the accident.
The officials have contacted the woman who allegedly hit Merz.
There was no arrest.
