Robin Ames was on his way back from a gravel bike ride on February 17, 2020, when he was struck and killed by an SUV. He had just turned onto Old State Route 73, and he was a mile and a half from his home. He was climbing one of the last hills on his route when a Chevrolet Equinox hit him from behind. The driver of the vehicle told police she didn’t see Robin until after she struck him.
Robin was more careful than many cyclists. His bike was equipped with flashing lights for visibility, rearview mirrors, and even a computer that alerted him to the speed of approaching vehicles. Still, the driver didn’t see him until it was too late — she was checking the weather on her phone.
When police arrived on the scene, Robin had succumbed to his injuries. The driver was charged with negligent homicide, involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving, and illegal use of a cell phone while driving.
Ultimately, she pleaded guilty to reckless driving, improper passing of a bicycle, negligent homicide, and using a cell phone without hands-free equipment while driving. All charges were misdemeanors. Despite pleading guilty many of the fines and penalties were waived and she performed several hours of community service.
Robin left behind two daughters and his wife, Karrah. He loved teaching his daughters to ride, and he was an avid mountain, road, and gravel cyclist himself. Although he worked as an engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy, he still managed to find the time to ski, create art, and climb mountains.
Robin’s loved ones remember him as a kind, funny, and intelligent friend, husband, son, brother, and father. He had a handshake that inspired confidence, a passion for the outdoors, and a giving spirit.
His legacy lives on through The Robin Ames Foundation, an organization dedicated to spreading awareness of the devastating consequences of distracted driving. Its tagline is a poignant one: “Look up. Live on.” The foundation’s goal is a critically important one: to save lives through awareness, education, community events, and legislative change.
The foundation invites site visitors to sign a pledge to put their phones down while driving and avoid intentional distractions. It also lobbies for legislative reform around the issue of distracted driving and spearheads local, regional, and national advertising campaigns to raise awareness.
While The Robin Ames Foundation works to prevent more loss of life due to distracted driving, it also celebrates Robin’s legacy through community events and scholarships. The annual RAF Trail Race Series through Coopers Rock State Park in Morgantown, West Virginia, honors his love of nature and adventure.
The series has something for everyone — ultra-distance 50k and 25k runs, a 10k, a 5k, and a one-mile kids’ run. There are even virtual distance options for those who live far away but still want to join.
Each year, three West Virginia students are awarded the Robin Ames Memorial Scholarship. Each scholarship winner embodies three things Robin valued most: problem-solving, curious exploration, and building community.
Young people’s voices are an indispensable part of combating distracted driving, and when selecting recipients, the foundation looks for applicants who have fresh ideas for educating this generation and the next.
The Robin Ames Foundation has brought joy and connection to the community in Morgantown and beyond — but that doesn’t mean Robin’s family and friends don’t still feel the pain of his loss.
“He is missed daily and was a true force of nature,” says Robin’s older sister, Emily Mallon. “I have had more years without him now than I did before he was born, and it is a huge hole in my daily life and heart.”
