Draper cyclist remembered as driven young mother

DRAPER — To Elizabeth "Bunny" Bradley, her family and friends meant everything. And to her friends and family, Bradley was "Superwoman."

"She just had a drive to accomplish her goals, whether it was running, racing, Pilates," Natalie Watson, Bradley's sister-in-law, said fondly Thursday while standing in front of Bradley's house. "She wanted to be the best at everything she could be."

On Thursday, Bradley, 29, died as a result of the injuries she sustained less than 24 hours earlier when she was hit by a pickup truck while bicycling on Highland Drive near South Mountain.

Just before 7 a.m. Wednesday, Bradley was riding with nine other women near 900 E. Highland Drive (14375 South) when a pickup truck drifted into oncoming traffic and hit another car, said Unified Fire Authority Capt. Clint Smith.

The impact from the collision knocked a tire off the truck, Smith said. That, in turn, caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The pickup was propelled into the cyclists.

"It doesn't sound like this group of cyclists had any chance to get out of the way," he said.

Bradley took the brunt of the collision, hitting the vehicle head-on. She was flown by medical helicopter to University Hospital, where she remained on life support until her death.

Wednesday night, friends of Bradley prayed and fasted for her.

The accident was still under investigation Thursday by Draper police. Detectives were collecting evidence that they will present to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office for possible charges.

At the crash site Thursday, remains of yellow police tape used to block off the accident scene were still tied to a fence. Small fragments of red tail lights and other debris from the vehicles lay in the road alongside spray paint markings made by police investigators. Flowers were left on the curb where Bradley was hit.

At her home Thursday, cars lined the street as friends, family and well-wishers stopped by to offer their condolences, as well as food and any assistance they could provide.

Watson said the family had received condolences from people across Utah and from around the country, and they were deeply touched by the outpouring of love.

"It's a great testament of what an amazing person she was," Watson said. "She'll forever live as a bright, shining light in our hearts."