Hundreds Rally Together for Benefit Bike Ride

In Sunday morning, cyclists came to participate in Ride4Matt, a benefit bicycle ride for the family of Matthew Wietrick, a cyclist who was struck by a car on Feb. 5 of this year.

Ride4Matt was organized by friend and fellow rider Scott Taggart of Roseville.

Taggart said he was devastated and shocked when he heard the news about Wietrick.

“At first, it was debatable whether he would live,” Taggart said. “But slowly he began to recover, slowly he began to come around and he kept progressing.”

But Wietrick says he doesn't remember the accident. Being struck only a mile from his home, the driver was going an estimated 50 MPH when he struck Wietrick from behind. The driver had fallen asleep at the wheel.

After three surgeries, and a replaced top of his cranium, Wietrick says he's doing “significantly better.”

Because of an ID bracelet known as RoadID which stores basic information and contact info, Wietrick was easily identifiable and his wife, Denise, was immediately contacted about the accident. 

The first three weeks, Wietrick spent in a coma. Denise Wietrick said that when her husband came out of the coma “he didn't always remember me or my name.”

Wietrick spent 10 weeks in the hospital before he was able to come home.

At the ride, Wietrick and Denise said his recovery has come quicker than originally thought. He is able to communicate, eat on the right side of his jaw as well as walk. Even recently Wietrick did a 20-mile ride with his daughter. But Wietrick still has both physical therapy and speech therapy every week.

“She takes care of me,” Wietrick said about Denise. “She came everyday to see me.”

The event was donation based, with a suggested donation of $20. Over the past two months, donations came by way of registration for the ride through the website, ride4matt.org.

By June 11, the day before the race, there were 325 registered riders. Taggart said he estimated 400 supporters and more than 300 riders participated in Ride4Matt.

There were three different distances for participants to register for; a 70-mile ride starting at 8 a.m.,  a 35-mile ride at 9:30 a.m. and a 10-mile ride, which began at 11:30 a.m.

The majority of the course took riders out into the streets of Roseville, but began and ended at Royer Park.

Food for the event was donated by UC Davis' dining services, which included breakfast and a barbecue lunch.

Taggart estimates more than $13,000 was raised for the Wietrick family to help cover hospital bills and daily expenses.

“Witnessing the downs and ups is quite amazing,” Taggart said. “We are doing this to say we support you and we love you.”

More photos from the ride are in our .