UPDATE: Bicyclists, driver identified in fatal hit and run

BY Marci Laehr Tenuta
Journal Times

Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:22 PM CDT

RAYMOND — The bicyclist who died this morning after being struck by a car Wednesday night has been identified as Nancy Sellars, 48, of Franklin.

Sellars was an avid athlete. Just last month she was part of Team Badger Bikers in the Race Across America, an ultra-endurance cycling event. The 3,000 mile bicycle race started from Oceanside and stretched through 15 states, across the Rockies and the Appalachians, and finished in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Wisconsin team rode to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation of Wisconsin.

Sellars also finished four Ironman Triathlons, three 50 mile runs, five 50k runs, five Birkebeiner ski races and over a dozen marathons.

The woman who was driving the car who hit Sellars and fellow bike rider Tom Chopp, has been identified as Janell D. Gehrke, 43, of the Town of Norway.

Gehrke was arrested Wednesday on charges of injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle and operating while intoxicated. She was held at the Racine County Jail on a cash bond of $13,000. Racine County sheriff’s deputies said she posted bond and was released early Thursday.

Sellars and Chopp both suffered major trauma in the crash.

Racine County sheriff’s deputies said that the pair was struck by a vehicle driven by Gehrke just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on 5 Mile Road, east of 108th Street. The bicyclists were westbound on 5 Mile Road when they were hit from behind by Gehrke’s car, that was also headed west.

Reports said the impact caused Sellars and Chopp to be ejected from their bikes and land nearly 30 feet from the site of the collision.

Raymond rescue crews, with the assistance from Wind Lake emergency medical technicians, transported the two to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa.

Deputies said Gehrke fled the scene of the crash went to a residence in the Town of Norway and then had a friend call law enforcement. She was later arrested, however, the charges against her are expected to be modified to reflect Sellars’ death.

Sellars died at 2:08 a.m. Thursday at Froedtert.

A condition update on Chopp was not immediately available.

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