Two members of the Frisco Triathlon Club were killed Saturday morning when a vehicle struck them during a group training ride on a rural stretch of FM 455 near Pilot Point. Fellow riders say the men were longtime training partners, and their deaths have left North Texas’ tight-knit triathlon community stunned.
Deadly crash on FM 455
Pilot Point police began receiving multiple 911 calls around 8:19 a.m. reporting that two cyclists had been hit on FM 455 East, just east of Fritcher Road, according to FOX 4. Officers from several agencies and emergency medical crews rushed to the scene and began life-saving efforts on the riders.
Training partners identified
The cyclists were identified as Andre Kocher and Scott Mages, both riding with the Frisco Triathlon Club during the training session, the club said in a social media post, according to The Dallas Morning News. The club wrote that it was “deeply saddened” and called the two men “part of our community,” a sentiment echoed by teammates and local bike shops who described them as fixtures on group rides.
Emergency response and outcome
First responders performed life-saving measures at the crash site. One rider was taken to Celina Methodist Hospital and the other was airlifted by CareFlite to Medical City Plano; both later died, as reported by CBS Texas. Authorities have not announced any arrests and say the investigation is still active.
Community grief and memorial plans
Word of the crash spread quickly through the local endurance sports scene. One Ironman athlete told NBC 5 the news was “just devastating” for the community. The Frisco Triathlon Club said it will hold a Santa Run on Christmas Eve to honor Kocher and Mages, framing the event as a celebration of their lives rather than a purely somber memorial.
Road rules for cyclists
Under Texas law, a bicycle is treated as a vehicle, which means cyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers on public roads. The Texas Transportation Code states that a person on a bicycle “has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle” and that riders traveling slower than traffic “shall ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway,” according to the Texas Transportation Code. Investigators use those provisions as part of the framework for deciding whether any traffic laws were violated on routes frequently used for group rides.
Investigation still underway
Pilot Point police said the driver briefly left the scene after the collision but quickly returned and has been cooperative with investigators, according to CBS Texas. Officials have not announced whether charges will be filed. The multi-agency investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Pilot Point Police Department.
