COLUMBUS — A bicyclist was struck by two separate vehicles in Franklin County Friday evening.
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The Ohio State Highway Patrol led the investigation into a bicyclist who was struck several times on the same stretch of road.
A preliminary investigation found that the bicyclist was heading southbound on Norton Road when a four-door black pickup truck with an extended cab struck the victim while driving in the same direction, a witness told state troopers.
The pickup truck’s driver fled the scene following the pedestrian strike.
A 16-year-old, driving a Hyundai Elantra, then hit the bicyclist, leaving the victim struck twice on the same road.
The victim was taken to Doctor’s West Hospital for serious injuries, which they succumbed to and died. The victim was not identified by officials at the time of reporting.
Riley Urly, another witness who heard the crash while working at the convenience store next to the site said, “I came outside and there was just a guy under the car. So, a lot of people ran out, like that were getting gas and whatnot, ran out to help and were trying to lift the car and get him out from under.”
About 350 bicycle-involved crashes were reported throughout Ohio this year with seven of the crashes being deadly, a spokesperson for the Ohio State Highway Patrol told WBNS.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned that bicycle deaths were the highest during the summer. The organization advised people to “always wear a helmet, wear equipment to make be more visible to others like bright clothing, use a red rear light, and always wear reflectors when riding at night.”
Drivers were cautioned to give bicyclists plenty of room on the road and not passing too closely, the spokesperson for state troopers said.
The investigation remained ongoing.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Columbus post of Ohio State Highway Patrol at 614-466-2660.
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