Driver now facing charges, including DUI, after bicyclist hit and killed

PITTSBURGH — Police say a driver was drunk when he hit and killed a bicyclist in October in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood.

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Thomas Morton’s vehicle struck 22-year-old Austin Fike along Brookline Boulevard on Oct. 20. Fike was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Fike was riding to McDonald’s to get his son something to eat when he was struck, according to his family and friends.

>>PREVIOUS STORY: Memorial for bicyclist who was hit, killed in Brookline keeps vanishing

Morton now faces charges including driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle while DUI and involuntary manslaughter.

Police said arrangements have been made for Morton to turn himself in. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 17.

Fike’s sister, Haley, is now pushing to make the deadly intersection safer. Days before Austin was killed, a car slammed into an apartment building at the same intersection -- wedging itself in the brick.

“It’s pretty dangerous, and unfortunately it takes a loss like this for something to happen,” Haley said.

She doesn’t know what the answer is yet -- whether it’s better road markings, signs or brighter lighting there -- but Haley knows she doesn’t want another family to feel this kind of unbearable pain.

Now, a memorial and ghost bike sit at the corners of the intersection.

Bicyclist killed when hit by car driven by unlicensed driver in Brookline Bicyclist killed when hit by car driven by unlicensed driver in Brookline

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