:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/N2TAZGF7ZRDLTG3ULIQM3N6E5M.jpg "National Guard doctor killed in 1 of 4 accidents during bicycle race across the state")
ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Florida. – A tragic accident took the life of a doctor who was also a father, a military veteran and an active member of the National Air Guard.
Captain Troy Manz MD, 46, served as an air transport physician based in Illinois.
He died over the weekend in a bicycle accident while competing in a race in Florida. Two women were also seriously injured.
The organizers of the 72-hour Sea to Sea competition, Adventure Races Georgia, canceled the race shortly after the deadly accident.
It happened at about 2:30 am on US 1, in the south of St. Johns County.
News4Jax learned on Monday that there were several accidents related to the race.
Master Sgt. Dylan Bryan of the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed in the afternoon that nine cyclists were involved in four separate accidents in St. Johns and Flagler counties.
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Another accident, involving two competitors, was a hit-and-run where soldiers are still looking for the driver.
“He was a friend of all of us,” said Colonel Troy Compardo, commander of Manz in the 126th Illinois Air Guard Medical Group. “And that makes it even more difficult. We lose an aviator, we lose a friend, we lose a mentor, we lose a future leader. “
Manz began his military service as a Marine, then joined the Air Force and, finally, the Illinois Air Guard. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan as medical support on board and graduated in medicine at the age of 40. He left two children.
Manz was on an adventure across the states from Homosassa Springs, on the Gulf Coast, to St. Augustine, as part of the 72-hour expedition. His fiancee Trish Wilkinson and his friend Barbara Gilmore were also part of the team.
All three were hit on US 1, near Interstate 95, in St. Johns County, on Sunday morning. The two women were seriously injured, taken to UF Health with serious injuries, Bryan said. Manz was killed. The road, now with a memorial to him, is almost completely dark at night.
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State troops are still investigating, but in their report they noticed a 27-year-old driver from St. Augustine, who swerved from his lane to hit the three. The results of the drug and alcohol tests have not yet been released.
AR Georgia released a statement on Facebook: “We were asked by the authorities not to discuss any details of the accident due to the ongoing investigation. The AR Georgia family is heartbroken by this tragic event and our thoughts are with these families at this difficult time. No subject has a higher priority for us than the safety of our participants. “
A manager confirmed to News4Jax that cyclists were required to have bicycle headlights, but there was no car accompanying them, as the cyclists were significantly spaced. Another competitor said he believed the security measures were in place.
“With all of our spotlights and security lights, I mean, you can see us, I mean, you can see us a mile away. We do everything we can, ”said competitor Thomas Quattlebaum. “And, unfortunately, that doesn’t stop everything from happening. It is simply tragic. “
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Alex Fitzjohn, who runs David’s World Cycle in Jacksonville Beach, said it is a sad reminder that cyclists and drivers need to be extremely careful at all times.
He recommends day and night lights, helmets and a safe place to walk.
“One of the mottos we like to say is to be distracting,” he said. “Keep the lights on, I have brightly colored clothes and make sure you’re the distracting part for them to see you.”
There is a donation account for medical and funeral expenses related to the accident.
State police said there were minor injuries in the other accidents.
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At the hit, Bryan said the investigators have good evidence and hope to find the driver soon. The other two accidents are being controlled by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
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