RENO, Nev. (AP) - A professional mountain bike racer from Nevada said he was struck by a city truck while riding his bike near Reno’s downtown casino district and the driver pointed and laughed before driving away.
Trevor DeRuisé, 22, is a former junior motocross champion who turned pro in 2012. He finished second last year at the USA Cycling National Championships in Super-D for the second year in a row, and was selected to ride for Team USA at the North American World Cup in Quebec.
DeRuisé told the Reno Gazette-Journal (https://tinyurl.com/kzpyqhr) he was returning to his Reno home from a training ride on Tuesday when the truck pulled up within inches of his rear wheel at the I-80 overpass. He says the driver followed him closely for a distance before hitting him from behind and knocking him off the bike.
Rather than stopping to help, DeRuisé says the driver turned the wheels of the truck toward him and revved the engine before driving off.
“He was actually pointing and laughing. It was very apparent,” said DeRuisé, who wasn’t seriously hurt.
DeRuisé got the truck’s license plate and notified police.
Reno police spokesman Tim Broadway says detectives confirmed the license plate belongs to a city vehicle, and city spokeswoman Deanna Gescheider confirmed a city employee was involved. She says it’s being investigated as a hit-and-run accident but couldn’t comment further.
Broadway says the investigation likely will include checking any available camera footage.
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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, https://www.rgj.com
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