A Laurens-Marathon Community School District high school science teacher was struck and killed in a bicycle-car accident last Wednesday, according to police.
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. Wednesday as the teacher was riding his bike westbound on Highway 10, about 3 miles east of Marathon. According to school staff and friends, the teacher was intending to participate in Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa this summer.
He was struck by a car heading in the same direction, driven by an 18-year-old former student. Police believe that both rider and driver were heading westbound into the setting sun and that the driver was thus blinded and unable to see the teacher.
The teacher was taken to Pocahontas Community Hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Police had not filed any charges.