An alleged road rage incident that happened on Bend’s west side between a driver and a cyclist shortly after Memorial Day has resulted in a settlement, the Source has learned.
Driver and defendant Michael Adin Wild reached a settlement with plaintiff and elite youth cyclist Jack Billowitz, who was 16 at the time of the incident.
The Source detailed the event in its Sept. 10 cover story “Trouble on the Road.” The short of it is: Billowitz and a high school friend, riding two-abreast, rode along the bike lane on Skyliners Road. Wild, driving his work truck, overtook the riders in the traffic lane yet parked his vehicle ahead of them. He got out and allegedly shoved Billowitz off his bike.
In a declaration in support of motion to dismiss, Billowitz dropped criminal charges against Wild, pursuant to the civil compromise agreement, which usually involves a monetary payment for damages. Wild faced charges including criminal mischief in the second degree, assault in the fourth degree and disorderly conduct in the second degree. Following the settlement, each party is responsible for its own legal fees.
Judge Beth Bagley dismissed these charges with judgement, which means they can’t be brought back against Wild, nor his family. Wild, who owns HD Construction & Excavation, was returning from his son’s baseball game when the altercation with Billowitz played out on Skyliners Road on May 27, 2025.
According to Oregon Statute 135.703, reaching a civil settlement frequently triggers a dismissal of related misdemeanor charges, although it’s not automatic, says Deschutes County District Attorney Stephen Gunnels.
Wild’s defense attorney Phil Duong, a senior attorney at Baxter Law, did not reply to a phone call seeking comment. Matthew Scarborough, the bicycle-law lawyer who represented the Billowitz family, declined to comment beyond confirming the settlement and its confidentiality.
Neither Billowitz nor defendant Wild acknowledge any liability by entering into the agreement. The terms are consistent with the pending civil suit settlement agreement, according to court documents.
While the conditions of the civil compromise, and the civil suit, are confidential, last fall the Billowitz family showed the Source documentation for $3,700 in damage to Billowitz’s high-end bicycle and about $11,000 in medical bills that included X-ray and CT scans.
Speaking with the Source by phone, Layla Billowitz, Jack’s mother, said she can’t speak about the feelings surrounding the settlement, owing to the confidentiality agreement. Billowitz did offer that Jack, who has a 4.39 GPA, will graduate from Bend Senior High School this year. Last December, he placed sixth at the U.S.A. Cyclocross National Championships in his UCI 17-18 junior category before spending the winter racing in Belgium with EuroCross Academy. Jack has been accepted by 15 universities, both in the U.S. and internationally. Most offered scholarships, Layla added.
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