Cyclist killed near Cumming

Sun August 30 2009
Posted Aug 30, 2009
10,482

Cumming IA Sunday August 30th Authorities have identified the cyclist killed this afternoon while riding along a rural road in Warren County.

Mark Grgurich, an advanced cyclist who worked as a goldsmith and jewelry designer at Elements Ltd, a custom jeweler in Des Moines, was the victim of the crash. Friends said Grgurich, a 1985 Iowa State University graduate, was an avid biker and a well-liked man. Grgurich was killed after he was struck by a white pickup truck that then fled the scene, according to the Warren County sheriff's office. Authorities say they are looking for a man driving a white Chevrolet pickup with a black rack in the back. The truck is believed to have suffered damage to the passenger-side front quarter panel, where the truck slammed into the cyclist. The crash happened along County Road G-14 just outside of Cumming around 11:30 am. Warren County deputy Neil Gurwell said Grgurich, who was riding on the edge of the road, was killed instantly as the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed. Both the truck and bicyclist were headed eastbound on G-14 before the truck clipped Grgurich and sped off, witnesses said. A man who owns a construction business near where the fatal crash happened said he heard a sound much like a shotgun going off or a tire blowing out. “It’s terrible, I have two sons on a bike ride right now,” said Ed Hildreth, owner of Hildreth Construction. “You feel so helpless.” It is unknown at this time what charges the motorist will face, Gurwell said.

[BIKEIOWA Note: Mark was well known in the cycling community and known for his long weekend rides and love of custom bicycle. He also crafted custom head badges for Jeff Bach bicycles. Here is a photo of a bicycle Mark had entered in the coolest bike in town contest during Bike to Work Week in May. This was not the bicycle he was riding today. One of his friends is offering a $10,000 reward for the identification of the scumbag who killed Mark. CYCLISTS UNITE - BIKEIOWA and others will be riding to/attending the funeral. More details as they become available. ]