Mary Burrows, bicyclist killed in crash near Dexter, was outdoor sports enthusiast
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Mary Burrows loved just about any kind of outdoor physical activity, so it wasn’t unusual for her to ride her bike along the roads in Dexter Township near her home.
But it was unusual for the 53-year-old Pinckney-area resident to be gone more than an hour, said her friend, Bonnie Clark.
Mary and Bob Burrows
Photo courtesy of Bonnie Clark
“It usually took an hour for her to do her route,” Clark said. When Burrows had been gone on an evening bike ride Tuesday for about an hour and 20 minutes, her husband, Bob Burrows, set out to look for her, Clark said.
He encountered police not long after leaving the house, Clark said. They told him a bicyclist had been killed at the intersection of Dexter-Pinckney and North Territorial roads north of Dexter.
He asked if the victim was a woman. That’s when he learned his wife, with whom he would have celebrated his wedding anniversary Wednesday, was dead.
Burrows, who would have celebrated her 54th birthday this Saturday, died shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday when she rode into the intersection of North Territorial and Dexter-Pinckney roads and into the path of a westbound 2002 Mercury Sable driven by a Chelsea man, police said. Burrows was wearing a helmet, police said.
Washtenaw County sheriff’s spokesman Derrick Jackson said Burrows had been riding south on Dexter-Pinckney Road when she stopped to take a break at the intersection. When she resumed her ride, she rode up out of ditch and onto North Territorial road, apparently not seeing the westbound car. The driver of the car likely did not have time to stop, police said.
Clark said Burrows, her best friend for many years, was a chemist and worked as a manager at Thetford Corp. in Scio Township. She was highly organized and efficient.
“She got more taken care of in a day than anybody I know,” Clark said.
Burrows was also very kind, Clark said.“I don’t ever recall Mary talking negative about anybody even when we were doing it.”
Burrows, who loved swimming, cross-country skiing and scuba diving, among other sports, had recently taken up triathlon participation, Clark said. “She just did one two weekends ago out at Island Lake.”
Clark’s former husband, Larry Clark, remembered spending many happy Friday nights socializing with Burrows and her husband.
“She was just really full of life,” he said. “I remember her laugh and her giggle. … She was like a sister to me.”
Besides her husband, Burrows is survived by two adult daughters and a grandson, Bonnie Clark said. Funeral arrangements are pending at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.
Comments
Madeleine Borthwick
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 3:48 p.m.
People!!slow down. be aware of your surroundings, please. how hard is this? Ive read stories like this and it never ever gets any less heartbreaking. my heart goes out to the family and friends of this lady. "the world got itself in one big D*** hurry." Brooks Hatlen, "The Shawshank Redemption"
John
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 7:25 p.m.
I didn,t see anybody speeding. It was just a horrible tragedy on an other-wise beautiful day
Baseball mom
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 12:17 a.m.
I hope I speak for all of us who drove through that intersection before the police and EMT arrived...a big thank you to those of you who stopped to help, especially the women who stood in the middle of the road and were trying to divert traffic around the scene. My prayers are with all of the families affected by this tradgedy.
John
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.
My wife & I were the second travelers to arrive @ this horrific scene. Between us we have 6 yrs of service in a MASH Hospital, several years as intensive care unit & anesthesia service management, medical direction of a cardio-pulmonary dept. as well as 60+ years of hands-on critical care experience. There was nothing we could contribute except getting in the way of the EMT staff en-route from several miles further West & avoid a rapidly expanding accident scene. Be sure the people you care about know that you love them. John
julieswhimsies
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 6:36 p.m.
What a horrific loss for the family of this lovely woman. My heart and blessings go to her husband, family, and all of her friends.
ypsicat
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 6:28 p.m.
So very sad. RIP pretty lady.
Davidian
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 3:54 p.m.
Devastating. This is just so sad.
David Muzzatti
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
Three weeks ago I was riding east down Plymouth road, towards Dixboro & my left arm got clipped by a driver, sending me to the pavement & rolling into a ditch. Not one motorist stopped to see if I was alright. I am fortunate to have only received road rash. My condolences to Bob Burrows & all the families involved in this tragic loss.
a2phiggy
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
Our prayers go out to Ms. Burrows' family and friends - may your faith, family and the love of your community surround you now and always.
justcurious
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 1:02 p.m.
Again, I'm so sorry about this. My prayers are for all of her family, and other people who loved her. Also with the driver of the Sable. May he find peace some day.
Diane
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
Sorry for your loss. Prayers to you & your family.
America
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:34 p.m.
Tears and prayers. An adventurous spirit who lived without fears. Celebrate the happiness she found in her adventures . Hold close all of her love and happy memories. Those are my thoughts and the thoughts I want my family to have for me if something like this happens to me on one of my adventures. This is surely a tragic situation and much pain and healing is ahead for this family. Keep close the great memories of such an adventurous woman.
Wolf's Bane
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:11 p.m.
What a heart wrenching story. As a runner and cyclist, I often worry about my personal safety when I'm sharing desolate country roads with fast moving vehicles. I've learned, over the years, that it helps to travel in groups, wear brightly colored clothes, and carry lights and reflectors which seem to help. But, nevertheless, the fact that we've lost yet another successful and energetic member of our community is very painful. My deep condolences to her surviving family and friends.
a2trader
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:26 a.m.
I am very sorry for the Burrows family loss. Like Mr. Burrows, each time my husband goes out for a ride, we talk about his route and the time he thinks it will take to complete. I, too, have gone looking for him when he was late - thankfully all was fine. This is so sad.
Billy
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
I got a sick feeling in my stomach when I read about how the husband found out. And with their anniversary yesterday too.... I'll express my sympathy and say I'm sorry for your loss....but I don't think any amount of condolences could be appropriate...