Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Saturday, August 9, 2008 8:30 pm

A Murfreesboro bicyclist died Friday evening when struck by a car on Sulphur Springs Road near Allen Road, a state trooper said.

Bicyclist James Benson, 51, of Buckingham Drive was riding his bicycle about 4:52 p.m. on Sulphur Springs Road when he was struck by driver Hae Suk Holder of Henry Lane in Murfreesboro, said Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Morgan.

Benson worked at Middle Tennessee Medical Center.

"She (Holder) was south on Sulphur Springs Road and attempted to turn left onto Allen Road and went into the oncoming lane and struck the bicyclist," Morgan said. "Mr. Benson was wearing a bicycle helmet."

Paramedics treated Benson before taking him to Middle Tennessee Medical Center. He was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he died. Holder suffered minor cuts from glass. She was treated at MTMC.

Contributing factors in the crash included Holder driving on the wrong side of the road, failing to yield and making an improper turn, the trooper said.

No charges have been placed. Morgan expects to discuss the crash with District Attorney William Whitesell.