The Dispatch reports that a cyclist was killed while riding the Tour of the Scioto River Valley.

William Crowley, 57, of Northville, Mich., was riding alone north near Piketon. He was thrown from the bicycle and died at the scene about 7:50 a.m., the patrol said.

The driver of the SUV, Sara Bender, 35, was not injured, the patrol said.

After hitting Crowley, she drove to her home in Lucasville in Scioto County and returned to the scene about a half hour later, said Sgt. Brandon Cruz, the Highway Patrol officer overseeing the patrol’s coordination of the tour.

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Tour director Charles Pace said Crowley was not on the tour route at the time. Some cyclists, apparently to save time, choose to take Rt. 23 instead of the official route on Rt. 104, though tour officials discourage the practice, he said.

I hate it when things like this happen, especially since I’m a cyclist. Be careful out there folks.

The Dispatch reports a bicylist was killed today on Snouffer Road near Smokey Row Road.  That’s definitely sad.  Worse, the person that hit the bicylist fled the scene.

The hit must have occured late at night, because the man’s body was found at 4 am.

While I don’t fault the bicylist, I would never ride my bike on Snouffer Road (even in the daytime).  It’s just too narrow and dangerous. 

Later today, I’m going to watch some bike racing at the Tour de Grandview.  Check back later for an update and pictures.