Ethan Boyes, an American champion cyclist, has died after being struck by a car while riding in San Francisco. In the wake of the incident, Boyes’ friends placed a ‘ghost bike’ near the scene, along with a sign alleging that a ‘drunk driver killed our friend’. Police have yet to comment on this, and DailyMail.com has been unable to confirm whether it is true. The driver of the car has not been named.
Boyes was biking in the Presidio of San Francisco a public park when he was struck on Tuesday by a car on Arguello Boulevard near the Presidio Golf Course and the Presidio Loop trailhead, US Park Police told KRON. Police responded around 4:00pm that day, with cycling officials confirming his passing Friday.
San Francisco resident Boyes was a 2018 and 2019 USA Cycling champion who holds the American record for the fastest time in the 500-meter track time trial flying start event. The SF Bike Coalition said Boyes was a ‘well known and beloved figure in San Francisco bicycling and especially in the track racing world,’ according to KRON. The group wrote, ‘The outpouring of sadness on social media speaks to Ethan’s kindness and generosity of spirit.’
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, officials said the 44-year-old Boyes suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he died. The driver of the vehicle also suffered injuries and was also transported by paramedics, however those were not life-threatening.
The US Park Police is continuing its investigation of the crash, as it took place within their jurisdiction. Authorities did not say if drugs or alcohol were influences in the accident – or if the driver was placed in custody.
A family spokesperson told the San Francisco Chronicle that law enforcement couldn’t confirm an arrest, but said the driver was detained. Boyes had a girlfriend, who shared the news with a number of friends of his in the cycling community.
‘Ethan was a very experienced cyclist and well regarded in the cyclist community,’ Shaana Rahman, a spokesperson for the family, told The Chronicle Thursday evening. ‘This is a pretty devastating loss for the family and for the San Francisco cycling community.’
According to Brian Keyte, owner of Paragon Fit Studio who found out through his girlfriend he had been traveling in a bike line when a car hit him head on. The coalition said that ‘several eyewitness accounts’ said something similar and that the car swerved across the center line and into the bike lane.
‘Ethan’s a really popular guy. He’s a world-champion track racer,’ Keyte said. ‘Just a super, super great guy.’ Boyes was riding in a bike lane in a public park in San Francisco Tuesday when a car reportedly crossed the center line of the road and hit him head on. He sustained life-threatening injuries.
In a statement to KRON, USA Cycling officials wrote, ‘USA Cycling is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Ethan Boyes. Ethan was the reigning Masters’ Track World Champion in the Men’s 40-44 Time Trial and Sprint events and part of the winning Team Sprint squad, all earned in Fall 2022.
‘In addition, he was a 10-time national champion throughout his cycling career. Ethan currently holds the World’s Best Performance record for Men aged 35-39 in the 1,000-meter time trial set in 2015 and several national records.
‘Beyond Ethan’s athletic achievements, he was an upstanding member of the American track cycling community. ‘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.”
