LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — On Saturday, our community remembered the five cyclists that were tragically killed in a crash near Searchlight last December. A Ghost Bike memorial was unveiled in their honor.
This “LV5” Ghost Bike memorial is placed right next to a popular bike path and intersection, near Charleston Boulevard and the 215, in the hopes to bring awareness to both drivers and cyclists. The memorial is a white tandem bike that is now covered with loving messages for those who were killed.
The “LV5” includes Aksoy Ahmet, 48, Michael Murray, 57, Gerrard Nieva, 41, Erin Ray, 39, and Tom Trauger, 57.
Hundreds of family, friends, and cyclists showed up to the memorial Saturday morning. It was very emotional, with loved ones taking some time to speak to the crowd — many shedding tears as they remembered those who were killed.
Everyone had an opportunity to sign the Ghost Bike and place bright flowers around the handlebars and wheels. At one point, every cyclist raised their bike in the air, chanting “no more Ghost Bikes.”
8 News Now spoke to David Murray, who lost his youngest brother Michael in the crash. He hopes the memorial will encourage drivers to stay extra vigilant on the road, and not drive impaired, so tragedies such as this do not happen again.
“Even though it’s a sad day, it’s a happy day because we’re all together. We’re a family again, along with all the other people here,” said Murray. “There were a lot of families here — a lot of unity. That’s what brings everyone together, and that’s what I would like to see happen.”
Right now, the “Las Vegas Cyclist Memorial” is collecting donations for the families of the victims, as well as the survivors. They have raised nearly $300,000 of their $1 million goal.
The group is also launching a public awareness campaign to educate the community about Nevada’s “3 feet or move over” passing law, designed to keep cyclists safe on the road.
This memorial will stay near Charleston Boulevard and the 215 for a few months. It will then be moved to a location on the east side, before finding a permanent resting spot.
The group plans to put another memorial out at the crash site near Searchlight.
