Bicyclist Transported to Regions Hospital After Being Struck by Vehicle

A bicyclist was transported to Regions Hospital Thursday morning after being struck by a vehicle at Owens and Mulberry streets in Stillwater.

The driver, Tyler Vanhook, 19, of Stillwater, was arrested, pending felony reckless driving charges.

Witnesses who saw the crash told police Vanhook was traveling southbound on Owens Street when he struck the bicyclist from behind.

The crash propelled the bicyclist into the air, and reportedly caused Vanhook to erratically swerve into a parked car—sending the vehicle into spin, before coming to a rest on top of the bicyclist.

When police arrived at the scene, the officer found Crystal Peterson, 34, of White Bear Lake, lying beneath the vehicle with a crowd of bicyclists trying to help.

She was “awake and alert,” the police report states. Peterson had the presence of mind not to move, and told police she hit her head hard, and was having left side and back pains.

Police later found that her bike helmet was cracked as a result of the crash. Her condition is unknown at this time.

Vanhook was arrested on suspicion of criminal possession of prescription pills, reckless driving, driving without a valid license and driving without insurance.

Vanhook told police he took a friend’s vehicle—which he knew was not mechanically sound—and was traveling at about 40 mph on Owens Street when he looked away from the road and struck the bicyclist. Vanhook reportedly told police he knew the brakes on the vehicle he took did not work properly.

According to the report, he was visibly shaken and apologetic at the scene.

Vanhook has an extensive history of “driving in such a manner as to cause or nearly cause accidents,” according to police.

Witnesses told police the bicyclists were traveling in the proper right portion of the roadway.