KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was November 20 when a Kansas City bus was hit by a van that police say ran a stop sign at 11th and Harrison streets.
“It just threw me forward and it freaked out a lot of people,” said passenger Chris Cropp.
Cropp wasn’t injured, but the same can’t be said about his bicycle, which was strapped to the front of the bus and got a direct hit from the van.
“The back rim’s bent,” Cropp said. “The gear shift is messed up and the frame is bent.”
Cropp said he hasn’t seen the bicycle since the accident. He said the now unusable bicycle was taken into evidence. Losing the bicycle was tough. Cropp takes two buses to get to work every day and bikes the last four miles.
“I have to be responsible for my daughter” he said. “I get to work any way I can.”
Cropp said someone from the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority told him he would be reimbursed for the damaged bicycle.
“I was told that they would have to figure out something with the insurance company,” he said. “They told me it was going to take a few days. But it’s taken a month.”
He was hopeful a few weeks ago when he got a letter from American Family Insurance (the insurance company of the van that hit the bus) stating it was handling the claim. Cropp called the number listed, but was only able to leave a message and has yet to hear back. That’s when he contacted FOX 4 Problem Solvers for help.
After he showed us the letter from American Family, we encouraged him to call the company again, now that the holiday season is coming to a close and more people are back at work.
This time, someone did answer the phone. The American Family representative promised Cropp he would solve the problem, asking for a receipt for the bicycle to prove its value. That’s something Cropp said he doesn’t have since it was a gift.
But there is good news. After this report first aired on Monday morning, several FOX 4 viewers offered their help. We’re happy to report that Cropp now has a brand new bike thanks to the generosity of a viewer.
