Family of Boy Killed On Bike Files Claim Against Bristol

BRISTOL, RI — The family of Mason Sterne, 6, of Somerset, Massachusetts, who was killed getting hit by a car while riding his bike on the East Bay Bike Path, submitted a claim against the town for negligence.

The Fall River Herald Friday reported that on Sept. 21, a notice was sent to the Bristol Town Council by Providence law firm of Decof, Decof and Barry, who's representing Sterne's family. The safety complaints included the following:

• Failure to have policies and procedures in place, “mandating that a stop sign, flashing and/or blinking lights, chatter strips rumble strips and other signage” were visible and unobstructed and alerting motorists approaching the Poppasquash Road crosswalk of bicyclists, pedestrians and other users.
• Failure to ensure all trees, branches and foliage were “cut back and trimmed so that the view of approaching motorists would be clear and unobstructed to view bicyclists” and others.

Bristol Town Council Chairman Nathan Calouro told the Fall River Herald that the accident has not been discussed at a public meeting. He said the case is being handled by the town’s legal counsel, attorney Michael Ursillo of Ursillo, Teitz and Ritch.

Sterne, the son of Bobbie and Amy Sterne, was struck by a car on July 24 at about 3:30 p.m. He was taken by ambulance to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries there.

Police said Sterne was riding his bike northbound towards Warren, police said. He was in the second lane of traffic by the path at Poppasquash Road. A car turned from Hope Street onto Poppasquash Road and was heading west when the collision occurred.

The 21-year-old woman driving the car has not been identified by police.

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