Suryapet tragedy: 75-year-old cyclist dies after car collision during BRM
HYDERABAD: A 75-year-old cyclist died in hospital on Sunday evening after a car collided with him during a 600-km BRM endurance cycling event near Pillalamarri in Suryapet district, as reported by DC.
Police identified the victim as Koteshwar Rao. Around 40 cyclists had started the event, police said.
Rao was riding with another participant when the car struck him near a junction. Fellow cyclist Phani Raj, who was about 300 metres behind, said the accident occurred around 14.35 IST, about 2 km from the Pillalamarri-Suryapet highway.
Raj said the cyclists immediately called 108 for an ambulance.
“They came, and I travelled along with him. I spent around three to four hours with him,” Raj said.
Rao was still breathing when Raj reached him, but had suffered severe injuries and heavy bleeding.
Police said Rao died while undergoing treatment on Sunday evening. A case was initially registered as a non-fatal road accident and was altered after his death.
“It was not a hit and run, the driver stopped and assisted the victim. The driver also came to the police station voluntarily,” an officer said.
Fellow cyclists remember Rao’s passion for long-distance riding
Raj described Rao as a passionate long-distance cyclist who had taken up cycling about three or four years ago.
“He used to call me ‘guru’. I am 50 and he was much older than me,” Raj said.
Another city cyclist said road design should take into account people travelling outside motor vehicles.
“We do exist on the road. Roads are built for automobiles, but they should be built for people to walk and also bicycle,” he said. “This is such an awful tragedy.”
Raj said the accident had changed the way he viewed cycling records.
“Instead of going after a record, it is better to take precautions. Life is more important than what we are trying to achieve,” he said.
