Colorado County, TX — October 5, 2024, a man was killed in a bicycle versus car accident at approximately 9:00 p.m. along Interstate Highway 10.

According to authorities, a 40-year-old man was traveling on a westbound bicycle in a construction zone with no shoulders on Interstate Highway 10 in the vicinity east of U.S. Highway 90 when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the bicyclist was struck by a westbound Honda Accord, landing in the eastbound lanes of the interstate. There, he was reportedly struck by several other vehicles, as well, though the number is unknown.

The man suffered fatal injuries due to the accident and was declared deceased at the scene. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary

When a cyclist is killed in a construction zone on an interstate, it’s easy to assume the outcome was inevitable given the setting. But in my experience, crashes like this rarely come down to one factor alone. Instead, they raise several questions about infrastructure, vehicle performance, and evidence preservation that must be addressed in order to fully understand what happened and whether it could have been prevented.

First, did investigators evaluate the construction zone layout and whether it left any safe space for non-motorists? Riding a bicycle on an interstate is already high-risk, but when ongoing construction eliminates the shoulder, it becomes especially dangerous. Authorities should assess whether adequate signage was present to alert both cyclists and drivers to the narrowed lanes, and whether detours or barriers could have been used to protect vulnerable road users. These are not just logistical concerns—they’re central to determining whether the road itself was inherently unsafe.

Second, has anyone looked into whether the vehicles involved—particularly the Honda Accord that initially struck the cyclist—experienced any mechanical issues? A momentary failure in visibility systems like headlights or windshield wipers, or critical components like brakes or steering, could have limited the driver’s ability to respond. Without a forensic inspection, these contributing factors can easily be overlooked, especially when the assumption is that the cyclist shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

Lastly, has all available electronic and video data been preserved? The Accord likely contains an event data recorder that could show vehicle speed, braking, and steering input leading up to the initial impact. That data could help confirm whether the driver had the opportunity to avoid the cyclist or whether the environment gave them no chance. Additionally, construction zones often have traffic monitoring cameras or equipment that may have recorded key moments, especially in areas where traffic patterns are being controlled or redirected.

When a person loses their life under complex and high-risk conditions like this, we can’t afford to rely on assumptions. Asking these questions is the least that can be done to ensure that those affected by this crash get the clarity and closure they deserve.