SOURCE: http://www.10tv.com/global/story.asp?s=3626236
Story Video: http://www.10tv.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?clipid1=478719&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=Woman+Attacked+on+Bike+Path&d1=89000&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage
UPDATE (From WBNS 10 TV):
Columbus Police are warning bikers, joggers and walkers that criminals may be targeting their trails of choice.
Gun-toting criminals have been stepping up attacks on the Olentangy Bike Trail.
But now, a major law enforcement initiative is being unveiled in hopes of keeping people safe.
Saturday night, Sarah Weinstock was alone on her bicycle when she was attacked near Tuttle Park, just north of the Ohio State University.
"He was sort of walking. He just had his arms out. He like filled up the entire path,” Weinstock said of her attacker.
"That was the moment of terror for me because he was reaching out for me. This is not good. This is terrible,” she recalled thinking.
"After that, I know is I was fighting right away because there was a lot of adrenaline. Then it starts to be a blur."
At 9:40 that evening, there was no one around to hear Sarah's screams. She fought and clawed
"And I just like (crouched) really low to the ground and waited and watched for any movement in the trees, sounds snapping branches. And I didn't see or hear anything."
From there, Sarah had two choices: the woods or the river. She chose to swim across the Olentangy to safety.
Sarah walked away from the ordeal with scrapes and bruises. She won't dwell on what could have happened.
"It would have been so different had I not gotten away or if it had gone any differently. It didn't happen. You could ‘what if’ it to death."
But next time, she says she'll do things a little differently.
"I don't think I'll be on a bike path by myself at dusk again."
Police found Sarah's stolen purse not far from the scene of the attack, but no sign of the man who assaulted her.
Columbus Police are asking anyone approached by suspicious persons at the park to contact them
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Initial comments (posted before WBNS story was online):
The lead story on WBNS 10TV tonight documented the story of an Ohio State University student who was attacked while riding her bike (alone) on the bikeway around 9:00p on 7/16/2005.
The report stated that she fought with the suspect then fled into the woods. Rather than risk another encounter - she swam across the Olentangy river to escape.
The victim suffered multiple abrasions.
Related video: http://www.10tv.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?clipid1=478734&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=Police+Warn+of+Other+Bike+Path+Attacks&d1=112367&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage
