Bicyclist killed by speeding driver in Center City treated pediatric cancer patients at CHOP: family

A speeding driver killed a bicyclist on Wednesday night in Center City Philadelphia, according to police.

The victim has been identified by family as 30-year-old Barbara Friedes, of Colorado. Family says Friedes was an oncology resident at CHOP and treated pediatric cancer patients.

Her brother told Action News that this loss will have a huge ripple effect, not only within her family but also within the medical community and the patients she helped every day at CHOP.

It happened around 7 p.m. while Friedes was traveling in a designated bike lane at 18th and Spruce streets.

Police say Friedes was thrown about 20 to 30 feet before she hit the ground. She was rushed to an area hospital for injuries to her head.

Witnesses say neighbors and police rushed to help, but she was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"I just remember what I saw and when I closed my eyes, all I see is that moment of a person upside down in the air," said Jessie of Porch, of West Philadelphia, who was riding their bike at the time.

Police say the 68-year-old driver in a Volkswagen was speeding down Spruce Street just before the crash. Witnesses say he was driving in the bike lane.

"We heard it go over the pegs that block off the bike line and we thought it was gunshots," said Lee Newswanger, who lives in Rittenhouse Square.

"To see a high-speed collision with a cyclist this is like my deepest fear," added Porch.

Police say the driver continued down Spruce Street, crashing into two unoccupied parked cars.

The force of the impact caused the vehicle to do a 180 coming to rest in the opposite direction. Police said the man was alert at the scene and taken to the hospital.

"They did say he was talkative at the hospital, the elderly gentleman driving the vehicle," DiSanto said.

Police are looking to determine what caused the crash and why the driver was speeding on a narrow neighborhood street.

There is no word on the condition of the driver.

Family says Friedes had a car but chose to ride her bike every day.

She is being remembered as smart, kindhearted and very giving.