Savannah bike rider dies after trying to avoid hitting loose dog

A Savannah man died Sunday following a crash while riding a motorized bicycle on Fairground Street, according to city police.

Witnesses told police that the man, David L. Cunningham, 50, had tried to avoid hitting a dog and been thrown head first onto the pavement when he tried to stop the bike. He was not wearing a helmet.

The crash report about the June 19 incident says officers found Cunningham unconscious, lying face down on the roadway with the motorized bike next to him. He was gasping, had a head injury and road rash on his face and arms.

Seriously hurt, Cunningham was transported by air ambulance to Nashville. He died at Vanderbilt Hospital five days later.

It’s not known if the dog was a stray or who might own it.