Remembering a Life Lost Too Soon in Middle River

Blaine Susnowitz should have been thinking about graduating from high school this year.

The Middle River teen loved being outside, especially when it came to riding his bicycle. That’s exactly what Blaine was doing as he went looking for a friend whom he thought was on the other side of the street when he rode his bike across Martin Boulevard at Middle River Road on Nov. 28, 2008.

But, that decision turned out to be fatal as Blaine was struck by a pick-up truck and killed.

Instead of planning for his graduation, Blaine's family and friends can only wonder what mght have been for the teen, who would have turned 18 on Jan. 3.

As a way of celebrating Susnowitz’s life, friends and family gathered at the site of the accident to mark the occasion. More than three years after his death, those who loved him still have a hard time coming to grips with what happened to Blaine.

“He wasn’t much into video games of sports, he just loved riding his bike and being outdoors with his friends,” said Dawn Susnowitz, Blaine’s mother. “While it’s still really hard to know Blaine’s gone, it was so special to have so many people come together and remember him. It showed me how much he was loved.”

Leah Griffin’s son was a friend of Blaine, and she said he still has trouble talking about what happened.

“It’s never easy to lose a friend, especially when it happens so tragically and he was so young,” Griffin said. “It’s a reminder of how precious life can be.”

Susnowitz’s death was ruled an accident, his mother said. According to an article in the Baltimore Sun, the teen was struck at around 6 p.m., by a pickup truck and the driver stopped immediately.

Dawn Susnowitz said Blaine died from traumatic organ injuries. But, he was also not wearing a helmet. While that did not play a role in Blaine’s death, Dawn Susnowitz hopes to use the accident as a reminder of the importance of bicycle safety, including wearing a helmet.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 630 people riding some sort of "non-motorized pedal cycles," including 11 in Maryland, were killed in 2009. An additional 51,000 bicyclists were injured nationally in motor vehicle traffic crashes that year. The NHTSA also reported that the bicycle deaths  accounted for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2009.

“I just want people to learn from Blaine’s death,” Dawn Susnowitz said. “Kids sometimes forget they are not invincible and need to remember that taking a few simple steps (can) save your life.”