CARTER CO., Tenn. (WTVF) — A pickup truck collided with a group of Milligan University cyclists on U.S. Route 19E around 9 a.m. on August 19, resulting in two fatalities and five serious injuries, according to authorities.
The incident occurred when a group of 10 cyclists was traveling south in the right lane during a training ride. A 2003 Subaru Baja pickup truck, occupied solely by its driver, overtook the group from behind and struck the cyclists near the intersection of U.S. 19E and Simmerly Creek Road.
Two cyclists suffered fatal injuries, and five others were seriously injured. Two additional cyclists sustained minor injuries, while one cyclist was unharmed. The pickup truck driver also suffered minor injuries.
The speed limit in the area is 55 mph, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation has designated this stretch of U.S. 19E as a bicycle route. The weather was clear and the road was dry at the time of the accident.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is involved in the ongoing investigation, which the National Transportation Safety Board is leading. Officials are working to determine the cause of the crash and identify potential safety recommendations.