Cyclist killed in hit-and-run on Swannanoa Road; Asheville police searching for driver

ASHEVILLE - A bicyclist has been hit and killed in a hit-and-run collision on Swannanoa River Road, police are saying.

Officers were on the scene of the fatal crash that happened at 11:45 a.m. near South Tunnel Road, according to Asheville Police Department spokesperson Rick Rice.

Witnesses said a white box truck collided with the person, left the area, and headed west toward Biltmore Avenue, Rice said.

"Officers are attempting to locate the vehicle," Rice said. He provided a photo of a vehicle he said was the truck. Rice said the person died on the scene and next of kin has not been notified. It was too early to determine fault, he said.

"A portion of Swannanoa River Road to South Tunnel is closed while the investigation is active," Rice said, adding more information will be released as it becomes available.

Asheville has seen at least two cyclist fatalities after being struck by vehicles since 2022, one downtown and one in West Asheville. In a 2023 accident on Merrimon Avenue, a cyclist was seriously injured when struck by a truck.

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Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This breaking story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Cyclist killed in hit-and-run on Swannanoa Road; Asheville police searching for driver