Bicycle crash still being investigated

As of Tuesday morning, the Iowa State Patrol (ISP) was  continuing its investigation into a July 24 collision on U.S. Highway 34 in western Mills County that claimed the life of a 72-year bicyclist from Jacksonville, Fla.

Wayne L. Ezell was traveling west with another bicyclist near the 2 mile marker on Highway 34, between Interstate 29 and the Missouri River bridge, around 6:40 a.m. when he was struck from behind by a 2012 GMC pickup truck driven by Robb W. Philippus, 34, of Glenwood, according to an ISP report. Ezell was pronounced dead at the scene. Philippus pulled off to the side of the road after the collision.

Ezell was among more than 10,000 bicyclists in the Glenwood area for the start of RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). The location of the collision was not on the designated RAGBRAI route, but investigators believe Ezell may have been heading west to do the traditional RAGBRAI tire dip in the Missouri River.

A spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol said investigators are reviewing the state code to determine if either Philippus or Ezell had committed traffic violations. The investigation is expected to be completed in the coming days, an ISP spokesman said Tuesday.