UPDATE ON CYCLIST KILLED: Fellow doctor comments on Dr. Hollon's death

UPDATE 4 (2:30PM Wednesday):

Fellow doctor comments on Dr. Hollon's death. Dr. Charles Weinheimer was a fellow anesthesiologist at East Cooper Medical Center. He was also a close friend of Dr. Hollon.

The hospital sent us the statement below from Dr. Weinheimer:

“Dr. Mitchell Hollon was a beloved anesthesiologist who practiced at East Cooper Medical Center for the past 20 years. His gentle personality, humorous quotes, as well as his excellent care of patients has left lasting impressions on all who knew him. East Cooper Medical Center’s staff, patients, and his colleagues will miss him dearly. We offer our prayers and well wishes to his family.”

UPDATE 3 (10:38AM Wednesday):

We now know a little more about Dr. Hollon. He was an anesthesiologist at East Cooper Medical Center.

Dr. Hollon has worked with East Cooper since 1991. He was a member of the national Apollo MD group.

UPDATE 2 (6:50PM Tuesday):

We now know the name of the bike rider who was hit and knocked off the bridge on the James Island connector this morning.

The Charleston County Coroner's office says 54 year old Mitchell Hollon was the man who died in the accident. Hollon is from the Charleston area.

In a just released traffic report, two witnesses are listed on the report. The report describes what happened.  It says that the van was traveling in the far right lane while the bike was traveling to the right of that lane on the shoulder. The report says the van then drifted into the shoulder hitting Hollon. 

Hollon died of blunt-force trauma, but officials say it may be impossible to tell if he died from being hit by the van or from hitting the marsh below the bridge.

The driver of the van is identified as Gregory Rupley of Charleston.

UPDATE 1 (12:09PM Tuesday:

The body of a man who was hit while riding his bicycle along the James Island connector has been recovered by rescue crews from the marsh below.

The bicycle and a bicycle helmet were still on the bridge after the accident. Two airboats were used to retrieve the body of the victim from the marsh.

Charleston City Police spokesman Charles Francis tells News 2 that an AT&T van is the vehicle that hit the bicyclist. He says the driver was in the van alone. The driver has given a statement to police. Right now police are trying to determine what happened before deciding what if any charges may be filed in the case.

There is a bike lane on the James Island Connector. Police do not know if the victim was riding his bike in the bike lane or not.

ORIGINAL BREAKING NEWS STORY (11AM Tuesday):

Charleston City fire, and County rescue crews are working to pull the body of a cyclist out of the marsh after a wreck on the James Island Connector.

According to sources, a van and bicyclist collided on the westbound side of the connector near Harbor View Road around 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.

News 2 is working to get more information from officials at the scene, and will have a full report on News 2 Today at 11 a.m.