Metro Man Killed in Charity Bicycle Race

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — An Independence man was killed after he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in a charity race in rural eastern Jackson County on Saturday.

Michael D. Forbes, 48, was killed when a vehicle struck his rear wheel while he was riding westbound on U.S. 24 east of Buckner around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Forbes was riding as part of the Freedom from Cancer Ride, which stretched from Independence to Lexington and back.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Forbes was declared dead at the scene by the Jackson County Coroner.

The driver of the vehicle, a 32-year-old Lexington man, told troopers that he had glanced down at his dashboard, and when he looked up it was too late to avoid a collision.

There is no word yet on charges in the incident, which remains under investigation.