Once again, a competitive cyclist has been killed in a training collision.
And this time, it’s in our own back yard.
According to the Redlands Classic, 19-year old Team California rider Tate Meintjes was killed in a collision while previewing the course for today’s time trial.
Meintjes was riding with his teammates on Sand Canyon Road, just east of Crafton Avenue above Redlands, at 10:52 yesterday morning when the driver of the car he was following made a sudden U-turn directly in front of him.
He was unable to stop in time, slamming into the car and smashing through a window. An emergency room physician happened to be riding nearby, and came to Meintjes aid shortly after the crash.
He was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The Reno-based racer had begun his career in mountain biking, before making the jump to road racing last year. Meintjes rode with the U-23 Bear Development Team in 2018, switching to Team California this year.
His Twitter account shows a typical young man enjoying the bicycling lifestyle; the last post was dated just two weeks before he died.
The race will go on today at the urging of his parents; the Redlands Classic will use the hashtag #RideForTate in his honor throughout this year’s race.
This is at least the 12th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third I’m aware of in San Bernardino County; it’s also the second in just two days in the county.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for TateMeintjes and all his loved ones.
What a horrible thing to happen. I’m so sorry for his loved ones.
Our prayers go up for the family and friends of Mr. Meintjes.