A cyclist was killed in a collision with a pickup truck Sunday morning near Glenwood, at the two-mile marker of U.S. Highway 34, according to Iowa State Patrol.

The man was going west when a pickup truck hit him from behind at around 6:40 a.m., said Sgt. Nathan Ludwig, spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol.

Wayne Ezell, 72, of Jacksonville, Fla.,was westbound when a pickup truck hit him from behind about 6:40 a.m., said Sgt. Nathan Ludwig, spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol.

Robb Philippus, 34, of Glenwood, was the driver of the truck. The Iowa State Patrol is investigating to determine whether any charges should be filed, Ludwig said.

"The driver was just going down the road and didn't see the biker," Ludwig said.

Ludwig said Ezell was participating in the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. Ezell was a retired editorial writer for The Florida Times-Union,the newspaper reported.

He worked at the Times-Union starting in 2011. He transitioned to become a part-time editorial writer in 2013 and later retired, according to the newspaper, and he continued to often write letters to the editor. The most recent one, published Sunday, was titled“I have become a Republican — and it feels good!"

“Wayne Ezell was the ultimate journalist. Reporter, editor, publisher, reader advocate and editorial writer, he personified the best in journalism. His passion for the profession never wavered,” Mike Clark, editorial page editor of the Times-Union, told the paper.

He was also a member of the North Florida Bicycle Club, according to its Facebook page.

Ludwig said the victim was participating in RAGBRAI. The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the death.

This year marks the first time RAGBRAI held a "Mile of Silence" to remember those who were injured or killed while cycling.

Crash Date: July 24th 2016

Read more...