Chelsea Norman
12-1-2013
1500 Waugh
Houston, Texas
1500 Waugh
Houston, Texas
Chelsea's death was one of the galvanizing forces behind the Houston Ghost Bike project and I felt it was appropriate that she should be the first post.
Original report taken from Houston Press:
Houston police are investigating a hit-and-run that sadly became a fatality Wednesday, when a 24-year-old woman died three days after being struck while riding her bicycle in Montrose.
There were no witnesses to the accident, which occurred on Waugh near West Gray the evening of Dec. 1, according to an HPD spokesman.
The victim, whose name was not released, suffered broken bones and head trauma and was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where she had remained in critical condition.
Follow up report taken from Channel 2:
A jury returned a guilty verdict Wednesday in the trial of a Houston woman accused in the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist a year ago.
Margaret Mayer was convicted of hitting 24-year-old Chelsea Norman with her truck and failing to stop and render aid in December 2013. Norman was riding home on her bicycle after she finished work at Whole Foods.
Four witnesses took the stand Wednesday, including an assistant medical examiner. Some of Norman's family left the courtroom before the testimony began. Others left in tears after it started.
Norman's friends and family members hugged and cried outside the courtroom after the verdict came in.
Her father, Randy Norman, says he doesn't care what sentence Mayer receives, all he has ever wanted is for her to accept responsibility for his daughter's death.
"Chelsea's family is happy with the outcome," said Randy Norman, after the verdict was read. "Chelsea's extended family - that's the people at Whole Foods, of Montrose itself - are happy with the verdict."
Chelsea's death prompted Houston's cycling community to rally for justice.
"The cycling community in Houston is ecstatic with the verdict because this actually puts forward, once again, the idea that cycling safety is something that needs to be taken seriously in this community," Randy Norman said. "We're talking about ending a human life. It happens to be my daughter but it's up to society here, it's up to these jurors here, to figure out what my daughter's life is worth when it comes to somebody's inconvenience for the next two to 20 years."
Mayer could face up to 20 years in prison after being convicted of the second-degree felony.
Mayer's defense attorney has said that there is no evidence that ties her to the crime. But a Houston police officer testified that the damage on Mayer's truck is consistent with the accident.
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