World champion cyclist Ethan Boyes fatally struck in San Francisco's Presidio
SAN FRANCISCO - A world champion cyclist was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle in San Francisco's Presidio earlier this week.
Ethan Boyes, a reigning Masters Track world champion, died in the collision reported around 4 p.m. Tuesday.
U.S. Park Police responded to Arguello Boulevard south of Washington Street for a report of a collision between a vehicle and bicyclist. The bicyclist, later identified as Boyes, died at a hospital while the vehicle's driver was also hospitalized but is expected to survive.
No other details about the collision were immediately available from U.S. Park Police as of Friday afternoon.
The Boyes family released a statement regarding his death on Friday.
"We are truly grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received from members of the San Francisco cycling community, friends and loved ones since the tragic loss of our son and brother Ethan Boyes on April 4," the statement read in part. "Those who had the joy of knowing Ethan, or who had even met him in passing, know that he was wildly generous of spirit and heart, charismatic, quietly funny, thoughtful, smart and gracious."
The family said that the U.S. Park Police and San Francisco Police Department were cooperating in their investigation into the crash. Anyone with information that may help the investigation was encouraged to contact Sergeant Wallingford with the San Francisco Field Office of the United States Park Police at 415-561-5505.
A memorial has been erected at the site of the deadly accident. People dropped off flowers and notes during the day Friday and a gathering was planned to remember Boyes Friday evening.
USA Cycling on Friday issued a statement mourning the death of Boyes, who was the current world champion in the Masters Track Men's 40-44 Time Trial and Sprint events held last fall. He was a 10-time national champion during his career and still holds a world record for men ages 35-39 in the 1,000-meter time trial event.
"Beyond Ethan's athletic achievements, he was an upstanding member of the American track cycling community," USA Cycling said in the statement. "His loss will be felt at local, regional, national, and world events for years, as he brought a mixture of competition and friendliness to every race. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition also issued a statement Friday about the collision, saying several eyewitness accounts indicate that Boyes was riding his bike south on Arguello Boulevard when a northbound vehicle hit him after the driver swerved across the center line and into the bike lane.
The bicycle coalition said that because the collision happened on federal property, "We are reaching out to the Presidio's governing body to demand that immediate action be taken to protect the many people who ride bicycles in the park, including on this stretch of Arguello."
San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, who represents the neighborhood where the collision occurred, also issued a statement about the tragedy.
"My heart goes out to Mr. Boyes' family and loved ones," Chan said. "No one should suffer or die from traffic violence."
Chan said she is urging the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency "to explore the possibility of protective bike lanes on Arguello between Geary and the entrance to the Presidio."