LOGAN, Utah, June 24, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Three cyclists were transported to area hospitals after being hit by a pickup truck during a charity bike ride near Logan Saturday morning.
Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Lawrence Hopper told Gephardt Daily the crash occurred during Bike MS: Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride on state Route 142 at mile marker 5 in Clarkston at approximately 8 a.m.
The ride takes place Saturday and Sunday and is Utah’s largest cycling fundraising event, with nearly 1,500 cyclists riding and raising funds, according to the event website. The event is based out of the Cache County Fairgrounds in Logan, and cyclists can choose to ride between 20 and 150 miles.
Hopper said a man who was driving home from a graveyard shift at work passed one cluster of cyclists without an issue. He then hit a group of three other riders; a husband and wife riding a tandem bike and a third cyclist.
The husband and wife were transported by ground ambulance to a hospital, then both were transported to the University of Utah Hospital, the husband by medical helicopter and the wife by ground ambulance.
All three have injuries that Hopper said were significant but not life-threatening.
Officials said the incident is under investigation, but at this time it appears the driver of the car may have been drowsy. It is not thought the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Hopper said the case will be handed to the District Attorney’s Office and it will decide whether charges are appropriate.
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information is made available.
