State patrol still investigating fatal bike crash

A spokesperson for the Iowa State Patrol (ISP) said Monday the agency is 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-old bicyclist.

Wayne L. Ezell of Jacksonville, Fla., 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. Ezell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ezell was among more than 10,000 bicyclists in the Glenwood area that weekend 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.

Mills County Attorney Naeda Elliott has previously stated that no decision would be made regarding possible charges related to the crash until the ISP has concluded its investigation.

According to court records published online, two search warrants have been served to Philippus at the request of the state patrol, one on Aug. 2 and another on Sept. 6.