Another tragic cycling death has left the mountain biking community shocked and deeply saddened.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, a fatal collision left a cyclist dead, occurring on County Road 105 near Marvel in La Plata County at approximately 12:08 PM on Wednesday. According to police, the 19-year-old male driver of the truck lost control at a high rate of speed, spinning out and striking the cyclist. The truck continued off the road into a ravine.
A report from the Durango Herald identified the cyclist involved in the fatal crash as professional mountain biker Benjamin Sonntag, who reportedly died Wednesday at age 39 after being struck by the truck. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Sonntag, who was described by Sarah Alsgaard as “ living the Durango lifestyle,” was known for his passion for the great outdoors and riding. He had lived in Durango since 2008.
While speed is a suspected factor, the cause of the crash remains under investigation. No charges have been confirmed at this time.
The League of American Bicyclists issued a statement stating, “Every loss of life on our roads is tragic—and preventable. No level of biking expertise and skill is a match for the dangers of distracted drivers and poor road design. We can and must do more to make cars and streets safer for people biking and walking.”
We’re devastated to learn Ben Sonntag was killed by a driver. He was an accomplished rider, a National Champion, a winner of the epic La Ruta race, and a beloved part of our community. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and team. Thank you, @CXHairs, for the photos. pic.twitter.com/xbibat0hoo — USA Cycling (@usacycling) March 5, 2020
Rest in peace, Ben Sonntag. If you ride a bike, you need to be engaged in this issue. Road violence touches every corner of our community—taking children, commuters, pro racers, messengers, regular folks just trying to get somewhere or have fun. When is enough enough? pic.twitter.com/GmVOsOnkvR — Peter Flax (@Pflax1) March 5, 2020
County Road 105 is located less than 30 miles from Durango, the mountain town Sonntag called home. Here’s a look at where it’s located on the map. Please note, the dropped pin is not specific to where the accident occurred.
Editor’s Note: Here’s a quick piece regarding why we’ve decided to include accident and death coverage in our collection of content.
This is a developing story. More updates will be added as it becomes available.
Editor’s note: Share the roads and drive carefully in Colorado. Use headlights, follow speed limits, and always watch for pedestrians and cyclists on the roads. Most importantly, please don’t drive distracted.
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