Published: July 26, 2008 09:53 am         

Cyclist killed on access road in crash

Danie M. Huffman

wdrpeorter2@yahoo.com

A 46-year-old Weatherford man was killed Thursday evening while riding his bicycle on the access road of Interstate 20.

Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Simon DeLaCruz said the man, identified as Thomas Hollrith, was riding his bike in the center of the road and not on the shoulder near the 412 mile marker in Willow Park.

The posted speed limit is 40 miles-per-hour and Hollrith was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to the initial Texas DPS preliminary report.

“It was damaged pretty badly,” DeLaCruz said.

The report also indicates the driver of the pickup truck struck Hollrith from behind as the pair traveled westbound, shortly after 8 p.m., when the sun was setting.

The driver claimed the sun was in his eyes at the time of the accident, impairing his vision.

Hollrith hit the front of the truck and landed in the middle of the road.

A medical investigator pronounced him dead on the scene. His body was transported to the Tarrant County Medical Center’s Office in Fort Worth.

The driver of the pickup, Jason Perkins, was employed with Houston-based EOG Resources.

Hollrith’s sister, Ann Volesky, of Port Washington, Wisc., said her brother recently took up riding a bike about a month ago.

“He visited here in late June and bought the bike,” she said. “He had it shipped down there. He was supposed to participate in a big bike race this weekend along with 10,000 other riders. It would have been his first race.

Authorities are unsure of why Hollrith was riding in the center of the road.

“He wore his helmet all of the time, [and] he did have lights for his bike,” Volesky said.

She added Hollrith was a co-owner of Cornerstone Restoration, a damage repair business for commercial and residential homes after floods and fires.

“He was pretty great and loved kids,” she said. “He didn’t have any of his own. He was a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo, and recently acquired a black belt in Aikido in February and also had a black belt in Judo.”

Volesky said Hollrith volunteered regulary by working with the homeless, helping them find shelter.

“Two weeks ago, he spent time with all of our family while celebrating our parents 55th wedding anniversary July 4th,” Volesky said. “He moved down [to Weatherford] about five years ago to open the restoration business.”

Hollrith was born in Grafton, Wisc., the son of George and Ann Hollrith.

A memorial service for Hollrith is pending.

     

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