HILMAR — A 60-year-old bicyclist from Hilmar was killed late Wednesday night after being struck by a vehicle on a rural stretch of Bloss Avenue, east of Golf Link Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred at approximately 11:20 p.m. on Sept. 11, when CHP Merced Area Units were alerted by the Merced Communications Center to a collision involving a bicyclist and a vehicle. Emergency responders arrived to find the cyclist had succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Preliminary investigation revealed the man had been riding west in the westbound lane of Bloss Avenue, equipped with a small red flashing rear light and a small front flashlight. The area was described as poorly lit.

A 16-year-old driver from Stevenson was also traveling westbound in a 2015 Infiniti Q50 at a reported speed of 60 mph. For reasons still under investigation, the driver failed to see the bicyclist ahead and struck the rear wheel of the bicycle with the vehicle’s right front side. The impact ejected the cyclist, who came to rest on the north shoulder of the road.

As a result of the crash, the bicyclist succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The teen driver immediately stopped and called 911. Authorities confirmed he remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Impairment was not suspected.

The incident remains under investigation.

 Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigating Officer Steven Demoss at (209) 356-6600.