Truck driver shot by police after ‘ploughing into group of cyclists’
Six cyclists are fighting for their lives after being ploughed into by a pickup truck during a mountain race in Arizona.
Bikes and bodies were reportedly seen flying into the air when a black Ford truck hit the cyclists head on in the mountain town of Show Low, some three hours from Phoenix.
A bicycle tyre was seen wedged into the grill of the vehicle while helmets, shoes and crumpled bikes were left strewn across the road.
According to city spokeswoman Grace Payne, two people went to hospital themselves while seven were taken in a critical condition, including the driver, who was shot by police.
She said authorities do not yet know the motivation for the alleged attack.
One victim had to be airlifted to a hospital in Phoenix.
Bullet holes were seen in the driver’s car after police shot at the suspect outside a nearby hardware store following a pursuit.
Tony Quinones, 55, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, told the New York Times: ‘I don’t know who the heck this guy is, or what his motive was.
‘He drove his truck directly and intentionally into our group, and you could hear him accelerate until he hit that telephone pole.’
The driver allegedly veered from the other side of the road and crossed three lanes to hit the group head on at around 7.25am on Saturday.
The victims were among 270 cyclists taking part in the annual 58-mile Bike the Bluff race.
Mr Quinones said he saw bikes and bodies fly into the air.
He said people banged on the driver’s windows and screamed at him to get out after he crashed into the pole.
But the man allegedly drove down the road, performed a U-turn and made another beeline for the cyclists.
Following a pursuit, police said officers shot the driver after he failed to comply with their orders.
Police spokeswoman Kristine Sleighter said in a statement: ‘At approximately 7.25 this morning a black super duty Ford struck multiple bicyclists during the Bike the Bluff event.
‘The suspect then fled the scene in the vehicle.
‘Officers attempted to stop the suspect which ultimately led to the suspect being shot.
‘Arizona Department of Public Safety has been requested to conduct the shooting investigation.
‘Six victims were transported to Summit Healthcare via Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District personnel.
‘Four are in critical condition, two are critical but stable.
‘The suspect is a 35-year-old Caucasian male in critical but stable condition.
‘Our community is shocked at this incident and our hearts and prayers are with the injured and their families.’
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