5 killed, 4 injured as truck hits bicyclists

On a highway ride to celebrate a retirement, a truck hits bicyclists in a tragic accident that took 5 lives and injured 4

The tragedy happened this morning on U.S. 95 south of Boulder City, according to Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Jason Buratczuk.

The following written content from Reno Gazette

Around 9:40 a.m., a box truck struck a group of about 20 bicyclists. Four men and one woman died at the scene, according to authorities.

The box truck remained at the scene for several hours after the collision, as authorities investigated what caused the crash.

“It doesn’t appear to be impairment,” Buratczuk said. “It appears to be a tragic accident.”

Of the four bicyclists injured, one of the riders was flown to a hospital in a helicopter in critical condition.

It appeared the bicyclists were part of an organized ride, Buratczuk said. They had a chase vehicle with them with flashers.

The driver of the chase vehicle was injured and transported to a hospital. The driver of the box truck was not injured.

U.S. Highway 95 southbound will be closed till about 6 p.m. Thursday, according to Nevada Department of Transportation spokesman Tony Illia.

Clay Weeks, an employee at the Pro Cyclery bike shop, knew many of the bicyclists involved in the tragic crash.

“They were on a retirement ride for one of the community cyclists,” Weeks said. “We’ve talked to a couple people who were on the ride. Obviously everybody is super upset and distraught. It’s pretty horrific that something like this would happen. There’s really no words.”

The tragedy startled Southern Nevada’s close-knit bicycling community.

“We all ride together,” Weeks said.

Weeks is familiar with the stretch of road where the crash unfolded. On Thursday, he struggled to imagine how the crash happened there. Read more from USA TodayWeeks is familiar with the stretch of road where the crash unfolded. On Thursday, he struggled to imagine how the crash happened there. Read more from USA Today