Man, 57, dies after being struck by car during cycling club event
A 57-YEAR-OLD cyclist has died when he was struck by a car while riding in a cycling club event. The crash was one of several on a horror day on our roads
Centralian Advocate
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A 57-year-old man died while riding his bicycle in one of three crashes on roads around Alice Springs on Saturday.
The man was at an Alice Springs Cycling Club event when he was hit by a Ford Falcon sedan. The car’s driver allegedly returned a positive reading to drugs.
The cyclist was hit about 8.20am on Darken Drive, Simpsons Gap, by the Ford Falcon sedan.
The 30-year-old driver, a resident of Alice Springs, remained at the scene and was taken into custody.
Assistant Commissioner, Regional and Remote Operations director Narelle Beer said Alice Springs had lost an active member of the community.
“The 57-year-old man is somebody’s son, somebody’s husband and somebody’s father, a loved member of the Alice Springs community, and of the cycling community within Alice Springs,” she said.
Police had noticed an increase in motorists driving under the influence, she said.
“Drinking and driving on our road has been increasing and road-related harm as a result of drink-driving has increased and continues to increase,” she said.
“Road users need to go home safely to their family and their loved ones, every day and every night.”
In a statement on Facebook, the Alice Springs Cycling Club broke the sad news to the cycling community and offered support to those affected.
Police are asking anyone who saw a blue Ford Falcon with South Australian plates around the Simpsons Gap area on Saturday morning to contact them.
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The tragic death comes as police were called to three crashes in the span of five hours on Saturday.
At 5.30am, police were called to a single-vehicle rollover 25km from Alice Springs on the Stuart Highway.
The driver escaped injury after the RAV4 rolled three times.
Police are investigating.
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Then at 10.40am, police were called to another single-vehicle rollover on Larapinta Drive involving a Holden 4WD.
A man, believed to be the driver, was treated by paramedics at the scene.
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