No Charges Filed in Fatal SK Bicycle Collision

No charges will be filed in last Thursday's accident that killed 84-year-old Richard C. Gardiner of Canton, CT, according to South Kingstown police. Gardiner was riding his bicycle on Route 1 near Shannock Road shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday when he was struck by a vehicle in a southbound lane.

Charlestown police arrived at the scene first and performed CPR before Gardiner was taken by ambulance to South County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police say that the driver, who has not been identified, stopped immediately, remained on the scene and cooperated with authorities.

An obituary published Monday in the Hartford-based newspaper, The Courant, described Gardiner as a U.S. Air Force veteran and avid cyclist who, since the 1960s, had commuted daily on his bike from his home in Canton to Hartford where he taught math and science. He was also a member of the Nutmeg Wheelmen Cycling Club, National Ski Patrol and Connecticut Region Nordic Ski Patrol Program - the latter of which he helped establish and served as a rescue and avalanche instructor. Apart from his love of biking, Gardiner also enjoyed skiing, hiking and kayaking, and personally built the wooden kayaks used by he and his family.

Calling hours will be held Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Turnpike in Canton. A memorial service will be Sunday at 10 a.m. at Ski Sundown in New Hartford. Donations may be given in Gardiner's memory to the Roaring Brook Nature Center, 70 Gracey Rd. Canton CT 06019.