TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The man who’s run Pima County Government for 25 years is hospitalized Saturday. Pima County Administration Chuck Huckelberry is in critical but stable condition after a bicycle accident Saturday morning.
Pima County administrator Chuck Huckelberry was riding his bicycle in downtown Tucson when one of the cars in a two car accident hit him and his bike. That’s according to Chief Deputy County Administrator Jan Lesher.
“He and his friends ride every Saturday morning. In recent weeks they've taken to coming down to the historic courthouse and having coffee at a local coffee shop here within the courthouse and then going on from here and he was hit just about two blocks away.”
Huckelberry is an avid cyclist. The county wide bike and recreation path called the Loop is formally named the Chuck Huckelberry Loop for his role in making it happen.
The Loop was actually created to get double duty out of construction meant to provide flood protection along major washes.
It is an example of many projects Huckelberry led in 40 years in Pima County Government with 25 of those years as the overall County Administrator.
“Which is just about unheard of in county government or even in local government. He started, he was in the Department of Transportation, he was an Assistant County Administrator then moved on to be County Administrator and has been there since the 90s.”
Lesher says Pima County has a longstanding plan for deputy and assistant administrators to take over the County Administrator’s functions whether he’s away on vacation or sidelined by an accident.
Tucson City Council Member Steve Kozachik released this statement:
Earlier today, Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry was seriously injured in a bicycling accident. Chuck has served this region with energy, competence and distinction for decades. Chuck epitomizes what ‘public service’ is all about.
My staff and I at the Ward 6 office extend to him well wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
I’ve already reached out to his top staff and offered any help I and my office can provide during his recovery. We pray for peace for his family as they work through this tough time. I look forward to seeing Chuck both back in the office, and back out on the Loop as quickly as possible.
Tucson Police say an investigation is underway.
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