Melissa Hoskins

[joe_papp]

Any confirmation of the reporting that Hoskins met her demise after allegedly jumping onto the hood of the couple's car (while Dennis was operating it solo) and trying to gain entry? Sounds like a fraught encounter!

From The Advertiser (Adelaide):

"The Advertiser understands police will allege Hoskins, also a retired professional cyclist and Olympian, jumped onto the car bonnet and then grabbed at a door handle."

 

[Sciatic]

Any confirmation of the reporting that Hoskins met her demise after allegedly jumping onto the hood of the couple's car (while Dennis was operating it solo) and trying to gain entry? Sounds like a fraught encounter!

From The Advertiser (Adelaide):

Ugh, I almost don’t want to know.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I am deeply saddened by Melissa death and by the long term consequences this will have on the rest of the family. It's a tragedy in its true sense.

Hopefully this thread can serve mostly for condolences purposes and similar.

 

[joe_papp]

I am deeply saddened by Melissa death and by the long term consequences this will have on the rest of the family. It's a tragedy in its true sense.

Hopefully this thread can serve mostly for condolences purposes and similar.

I don't think anyone is disputing that it's a tragedy.

I didn't know Melissa personally, though we interacted on social media. I am curious as to the reporting on the circumstances of her death, so please share if you have any additional insights.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I don't think anyone is disputing that it's a tragedy.

I didn't know Melissa personally, though we interacted on social media. I am curious as to the reporting on the circumstances of her death, so please share if you have any additional insights.

To be honest all parties involved need some closure. Including fans. And with time and by reading credible sources such demand should be satisfied. But the truth is we are really not important here. So maybe best if we refrain ourself from demanding answers and closure and to believe a cycling oriented internet forum can provide that. Hopefully hence this thread to serve for condolences purposes and remembering Melissa on how she would like to be remembered.

 

[RedheadDane]

I just don't know...
But if it is true, and if it is true that he got into the car to leave after/during and argument, I'll only say this:

If only he had walked!

 

[Berniece]

To be honest all parties involved need some closure. Including fans.

Hard to get closure if you don’t know the right circumstances

 

[RedheadDane]

Hard to get closure if you don’t know the right circumstances

They'll come, after the trial. Now, all we can do is wait.

 

[joe_papp]

They'll come, after the trial. Now, all we can do is wait.

If anyone sees, over the coming weeks or months, reporting that sheds more light on the details surrounding Melissa's tragic death, please post it here (I mean...if it's a true update, analysis or insight.) Not looking for sensationalized stuff--just to keep abreast with the investigation without having to regularly check news outlets in multiple countries. Anyway, that was my primary motivation to create this thread.

Since I didn't know her well, I can't speak to her achievements on the bike or her character as a woman/friend/partner/teammate/etc but anyone who did know her or who followed her career and wants to share, then by all means you could do that here, too if there isn't already a thread for her.

 

[staubsauger]

Any confirmation of the reporting that Hoskins met her demise after allegedly jumping onto the hood of the couple's car (while Dennis was operating it solo) and trying to gain entry? Sounds like a fraught encounter!

From The Advertiser (Adelaide):

Look Joe

IF those reports are true, then both Hoskins & Dennis are/were fully maniac & reckless . Lack of impulsivity control. Both went on with their careless behavior ignoring the danger occurring.

While Dennis pays the check for his actions in court & conscience having killed his own wife driving on.


Hoskins payed with the biggest price possible: Her life!

 

[Unchained]

This is obviously incredibly sad on so many levels, nothing good can come of it. Besides all the other things she was living and dead, she is the mother of 2 young kids. The Dennis thread was wisely closed because of the incredible emotion and need for outlet on something so terrible. There are hundreds of things online about the incident and most state what is known, she is dead, and her husband, thought to be responsible is out on bond awaiting trial. And all I have read says that in dozens of different ways. Our opinions won't bring her back, but ugliness could harm her children, immediately and later in life when and if they come across something about the tragedy. Be mindful that this stuff will last forever and a kid, soon to an adult needs to be spared a reminder that could be avoided.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

One living person knows what happened; a handful of people are trying to piece together what is likely to have happened and if they are professionals nothing of what they uncover will be heard until the matter is in court. I really can't see anyone having anything reliable and worthy of stating in terms of the event itself until then, so, apart from addressing this bit:

Since I didn't know her well, I can't speak to her achievements on the bike or her character as a woman/friend/partner/teammate/etc but anyone who did know her or who followed her career and wants to share, then by all means you could do that here, too if there isn't already a thread for her.

I really can't see what can be added here that can be of value. Please let's not rehash sordid speculation and rumour.

 

[RedheadDane]

Mods.... please delete if this is against the rules...

Spoiler: Speculating about anger issues

If he'd lost his temper before, then he might have needed anger management training.
Unfortunately, that's too late now...

 

[Sciatic]

One living person knows what happened; a handful of people are trying to piece together what is likely to have happened and if they are professionals nothing of what they uncover will be heard until the matter is in court. I really can't see anyone having anything reliable and worthy of stating in terms of the event itself until then, so, apart from addressing this bit:
I really can't see what can be added here that can be of value. Please let's not rehash sordid speculation and rumour.

While I agree with all of that, I know that I am curious to know what happened, and it’s a natural human response to be that way. Moreover, this forum is my source of cycling news outside the US. I won’t even know if more info has emerged unless I read it here on CN, and when folks post news items here they (sometimes) help differentiate whether it’s coming from a valid source or some notorious gossip rag or sensationalist blog. I hope folks don’t post stupid conjecture (though it’s quite natural for our brains to go there too), but I would still like this thread to stay open.

Why don’t I just mind my own business? Although the description of how the tragic events occurred may have changed since it was 1st reported, on initial hearing of the news I felt personally affected because I thought it was as another car-bike violence. That car drivers are killing or injuring cyclists ( at an increasing rate in my area) is pertinent to folks who ride on the road, and I feel personally impacted each time a new one hits the news. Just 2 weeks ago here a driver pulling out of an intersection hit and killed a well-known local club cyclist on a frequently used commuter/training cycling route. So it was very much on my mind.

I understand if other folks feel very differently about the Hoskins-Dennis tragedy, but wanting to know what news comes up does not necessarily = salacious fascination.

 

[Cookster15]

As others have said, this is a shocking tragedy on many levels, especially the children.

But I say in respect of all concerned, let’s wait for the outcome of the investigation and trial, rather than speculate on limited information.

I agree that CN is where I get all my cycling news and information. The Forum is where we share our opinions. But with limited information, I’ll be holding fire until the trial outcome is known. We should not jump to conclusions.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I won’t even know if more info has emerged unless I read it here on CN,

I just don't believe that anything said between now and the court case will merit description as information. Anyone who knows anything to be true about the events and has any respect for sub-judice laws won't be releasing that knowledge.

 

[Sciatic]

I just don't believe that anything said between now and the court case will merit description as information. Anyone who knows anything to be true about the events and has any respect for sub-judice laws won't be releasing that knowledge.

But we are not guaranteed to get information or evidence from the criminal case if there is a plea deal (very common in the US, don’t know about that in Aus.) prior to trial testimony.

I would expect some reporter to eventually get access to the police report ( legally or illegally—again I don’t know the laws there) and release information that way,

 

[joe_papp]

It'd be for the best if this thread sticks to news reporting on this case, but then it's also a bit out of place in PRR, in part cause Hoskins herself was a track rider.

Apologies for mislaying the thread. I didn't even realize [remember?] that there was a track sub-forum.