On a quiet afternoon in Winchester, Ohio, 48‑year‑old cyclist John McQueen was fatally struck by a vehicle on November 17 while riding eastbound on Rockwell Road. According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the car hit John from behind; though the driver paused briefly, he then fled the scene—leaving John without assistance or medical aid.
Passersby found John’s illuminated bicycle abandoned in a roadside ditch and, nearby, his motionless body. Deputies arriving shortly thereafter confirmed the grim scene: the headlight still aglow on John’s bike, John himself lying critically injured in the ditch and beyond help. The Clark County Coroner pronounced him dead at the scene.
Investigators identified the suspect the next day. 54‑year‑old Joseph Shrader was found at his home on November 18 and arrested. He’s been charged with: operating a vehicle without a valid license, driving with no or expired registration, and most gravely, leaving the scene of an accident where aid was not rendered, resulting in death or serious physical injury.
John’s death has sent shockwaves through his community. A man known for his friendly, outgoing nature and passion for cycling, John was on a ride that day when his life was tragically cut short. Friends tell of his commitment to the road and his joy in simple freedom, so it’s especially heartbreaking that his ride became the final chapter.
The roads, which cyclists share in trust with motorists, become scenes of vulnerability when someone flees instead of stopping. The sheriff’s office emphasized the severity of leaving a collision without helping or calling for medical services—a choice that now means one family’s life is irrevocably changed.
Shrader’s arrest shows the authorities’ swift response, but no charge will erase the loss. John’s family and friends are calling for stricter enforcement and greater awareness—so other riders don’t lose their lives the way he did.
In the coming days, the community plans to hold a memorial ride along Rockwell Road—to remember John, honor his spirit and insist that every driver stop, every motorist check, every cyclist be safe. His beloved bicycle, left in that ditch, remains a symbol of both a life enjoyed and a life ended too soon.
