Pickup truck allegedly stopped in front of XXX Racing-AthletiCo training ride; Cyclists say driver acted with malice
One dozen or more cyclists were injured Saturday after a pickup truck swerved into and then stopped in front of a XXX Racing-AthletiCo ride, causing 16 riders to crash into the truck, collide with another, or, in the best cases, exit into the ditch.

Three cyclists were treated for injuries on the scene by Lincolnshire - Riverwoods Rescue, including one who was transported to Condell Hospital for precautionary X-rays. Many other riders reported abrasions and road rash.

An extension of XXX Racing-AthletiCo's Saturday training ride was headed north single-file on the right shoulder of St. Mary's Road north of Everett Road in Lake County. "There's not much of a shoulder in that stretch of road, so we were on the white line, riding very tightly," said Bill Willems, XXX Racing-AthletiCo president. "At the start of the ride we had a discussion about safety... the team was riding very conservatively."

According to the cyclists, a white pickup truck driven by Thomas Lynch of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, shortly after 9 a.m. stayed in the lane as he passed and did not give the cyclists passing room.

Lynch then swerved even closer to the ride and braked in front of them, according to reports from cyclists and an independent witness that were confirmed by the Lake County Sheriff's office.

"It looked to me like he was turning, that was my first thought, but there was no road to turn on to," said Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo). "There is no question in my mind that there was malice, the way he turned into our path and the way he braked."

Because riders were in a tight paceline, those a few riders back said they didn't see the truck and slammed on their brakes. "The people behind the lead guys laid on the brakes really hard and we were all crashing one another," said Chris McNally (MetCycling).

McNally's flipped under his bike and landed underneath the pickup truck. "I flipped under the bars and tried to roll out my fall, and in doing so I rolled under the pickup truck ... He was stopping so fast I was rolling faster than his truck. Thankfully the truck was high enough that I was rolling under it."

Lynch drove away, only to return to the scene 30 minutes later.

When Lynch drove away, his right tire grabbed McNally's right side and shot his body out from the back, McNally said. Something on the undercarriage of the truck took "a big chunk" from McNally's left calf. McNally also suffered abrasions across the right side of his body. McNally and two other riders were treated on the scene by Lincolnshire - Riverwoods Rescue.

Willems was treated on the scene for abrasions on his knee, elbow and both forearms. He told EMTs that he felt tightness in his shoulder and neck and was put in a neck and back brace. Willems was transported to Condell Hospital for precautionary X-rays. Grant Davis from Chicago was also treated at the scene, according to the police report.

"There were 17 of us, almost everyone went down," McNally said.

Police took statements from cyclists and an independent eyewitness. "[The authorities] were outstanding," Seemann said. "They took us seriously, they realized that we were doing nothing wrong and were very thorough and careful in taking all of our statements."

An eyewitness from Mettawa, IL, who was driving in front of Lynch verified the collision and told police that the riders were riding single file as far to the right as possible. Cyclists say one other driver also witnessed the accident and returned to the scene.

Lynch had a bond hearing on Monday, Sept. 24. His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 29.

Specific charges have not been determined as of press time. The officer at the scene recommended that Lynch be charged with improper lane usage and failure to give aid and information, the police report said.

Lynch did not return a request for comment.