Attached to a lone tree in front of the CVS Drugstore at Braun Road. Being from San Antonio I know the history of Loop 1604. It began as a two lane road and is now a four lane highway in places. It was named the "Death Loop" sometime back in the 1980s due to all the fatalities from car crashes.
The name of the cyclist is missing from the front of the bicycle but there is a sign attached to the chainstay that reads:
This Ghost Bike was installed by
The Hill Country Ghost Bike Group
If you are a family member or a concerned
party of the deceased and do not want a
memorial installed please contact
HillCountryGhostBikes@gmail.com
News 4 San Antonio Monday September 19th, 2016.
Fatal hit-and-run victim identified by authorities
SAN ANTONIO – The victim of a fatal hit-and-run has been identified by authorities.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified 24-year- old Christopherson Cortes as the man killed in the hit-and-run.
Investigators said he was riding his bike on the access road of Loop 1604 near Braun Road when he was hit from behind.
Cortes was transported to the hospital where he later died.
The driver of the vehicle took off after the accident and still has not been found.
News 4 San Antonio Monday, October 3rd 2016.
Driver accused of hitting, killing bicyclist along Loop 1604
SAN ANTONIO - Police arrested a driver suspected of hitting and killing a bicyclist last month along a busy access road on the Northwest Side.
Investigators say Logan Andrew Ball, 27, was driving the vehicle that hit Christopherson Cortes, 24, on Loop 1604 near Braun Road on September 17.
Cortes was taken to a hospital where he later died.
An arrest affidavit states Ball confessed to being the driver on the night of the crash. Officers asked him if he ever planned to contact police and report the crash and Ball reportedly answered, "No, I never had a plan to do that."
He told police he hid the damaged vehicle at an apartment complex, according to court papers.
Ball was charged with failure to stop and render aid.
From their Facebook page Hill Country Ghost Bike
Hill Country Ghost Bike is a volunteer group that installs white bicycles as memorials on the sites where fatal accidents occurred involving motorized vehicles and cyclists. Donations of used out-of-commission bicycles are stripped of paint, sanded, welded and painted to prepare them for a new life as a memorial for the families and friends of those who lost their lives while cycling. These memorials are gentle reminders to all riders and motorists to always be courteous and aware of others on the roadways.
Spectrum Local News By John Salazar San Antonio - Published October 5, 2016
Cyclist's Death Emphasizes Need for Safer Roads
SAN ANTONIO - This year four cyclists have been killed by vehicles in San Antonio, and the city is trying to improve conditions when sharing the road.
Logan Andrew Ball, 27, is one of the motorists charged with hitting and killing a cyclist, and leaving the scene of the crime. He is currently locked up in the Bexar County Jail.
Investigators say Ball confessed to being the driver responsible for the death of 24-year-old Christopher Cortes.
"It's something that we as a community we need to take very seriously," said Shirley Gonzales
It happened along this stretch of West Loop 1604 and Braun Road.
"We need for the rest of our citizens to understand that this is a violent act," said Gonzalez.
In this case, it was a fatal hit-and-run that killed 24-year-old cyclist Christopher "Chris" Cortes.
"And it should be punished to the full extent of the law," said Gonzalez.
San Antonio City Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales is a traffic safety advocate and an avid biker.
"I think it is important to acknowledge that somebody's life was taken and that we should offer condolences to the family who suffered as a result of this terrible incident," she said.
Ball's arrest warrant says he confessed to running Cortes over and that he had no intent to stop because he feared going to prison.
The now-jailed man also said he "never had a plan" to call police.
"Expect that there should be severe punishment for instances like this one," said Gonzalez.
This latest instance of a cyclist killed by a motorist goes against the city's Vision Zero campaign, which is part of a nationwide push to eliminate traffic fatalities.
"We need to do our very best to slow down the traffic," said Gonzalez.
The District 5 representative has helped secured money to slow down roads, which she say should slow down deaths.
"One of things that does slow down the traffic is putting bike lanes. Putting wider sidewalks. By narrowing our roadways," said Gonzalez.
Ball attempted to hide his crime by concealing his 2002 Buick Park Avenue.
Police later found it at an apartment complex in the 9800 block of Colonnade.