The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a fatal crash between an SUV and a bicycle at Highway 58 and Blair Road on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 5 p.m.
A bicyclist died after a crash between a sport utility vehicle and a bike on Oak Ridge Turnpike in west Oak Ridge on Sunday, authorities said.
The crash was reported at about 1:52 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 58 and Blair Road. The male bicyclist had been taken to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge after the crash.
Highway 58 is temporarily closed at the intersection with Blair Road, and vehicles are being detoured as police investigate.
Officers hadn’t determined the direction of the vehicles involved in the crash, and the names and ages of those involved haven’t been released.
“The crash is still under investigation,” Oak Ridge Police Department Lieutenant Matt Tedford said.
The small white SUV was parked on the shoulder of the westbound lanes, just west of Blair Road, also known as Highway 327. The female driver was not reported to be injured.
A Clinton Police Department Crime Scene Unit responded to the crash at about 3:15 p.m. The ORPD sometimes uses the CPD unit to help with crash reconstructions in fatal crashes.
There were many road bike riders in west Oak Ridge on Sunday afternoon, including on or alongside Oak Ridge Turnpike and Blair Road, but it wasn’t immediately clear if the riders were part of an organized event or race—or if they were just enjoying the warm, sunny Sunday afternoon.
The Roane County Sheriff’s Office was helping with traffic control. The Oak Ridge Fire Department was also on the scene.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Note: Please see newer story here.
Mark Caldwell says
People drive too fast on Gallaher Road. Heck, they drive too fast everywhere.
Forget the terrorists, where’s the war on dangerous drivers? We’d save many, many more American lives.