Cyclist killed in head-on crash with truck during race, Vermont cops say. ‘Nightmare’
A 54-year-old cyclist from Massachusetts was killed during a Vermont bike race in a crash that the community could only describe as a “nightmare.”
Richard Wanstall, who was from Marblehead, was biking along a dirt road in the Rasputitsa Dirt race on April 29 when he crossed into the opposite side of the road, the Vermont State Police said in a news release.
Wanstall then crashed head-on with a Dodge truck heading in the opposite direction of the racers, police said in the release. Wanstall was flung off his bike and landed near the shoulder of the road.
He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the release. Officials don’t believe that speed or impairment were a factor in the crash, and the incident remains under investigation, police said.
The Rasputitsa Dirt is an annual gravel cycling race that includes “treacherous,” “muddy,” and “sketchy” terrain, according to testimonies on the race’s website. It has 40-, 70- and 100-kilometer races.
“We are deeply saddened by the news that one of our community members died today, after colliding with a vehicle while on course,” Rasputitsa Dirt said on its Facebook page.
“I am so sorry for this loss,” one person commented under Rasputitsa Dirt’s post. “This is our (worst) possible nightmare. Thinking of his family and friends.”
This story was originally published May 2, 2023 at 11:02 AM with the headline "Cyclist killed in head-on crash with truck during race, Vermont cops say. ‘Nightmare’."
