A Sunday morning triathlon near Okeeheelee Park took a frightening turn when an SUV crossed into a closed race lane, hit two cyclists, and sent both to the hospital, authorities said. One rider suffered serious injuries, while the other was treated for minor wounds.
According to WPBF, the crash happened at about 8:58 a.m. at Forest Hill Boulevard and Pinehurst Drive. Investigators say a 2025 Hyundai Tucson, driven by a 74-year-old man from Boynton Beach, tried to enter the park and collided with two cyclists who were riding westbound.
WPBF identified the riders as 45-year-old Ashleigh Whitton of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and 46-year-old Miguel Junior Gomez of Oakland Park. Both were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
WPTV reports the driver told investigators he did not see the cyclists, and the riders only spotted the SUV when impact was essentially unavoidable. Both cyclists struck the passenger side of the vehicle, and the driver sustained minor injuries, according to the outlet.
Race day context
The collision unfolded during the 2nd Annual BillBone Olympic Triathlon, a USA Triathlon sanctioned event staged at Okeeheelee Park from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., per the event listing on BillBone. It was supposed to be a fast, focused race morning, not a crash scene.
CBS12 reports the triathlon drew 368 competitors from 23 U.S. states and eight countries. The outside lane on Forest Hill Boulevard had been closed to regular traffic for the race, according to the outlet, which also noted that officials briefly shut Forest Hill between Pinehurst Drive and Jog Road while first responders handled the crash.
Investigation and next steps
Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue crews and sheriff's traffic investigators responded to the scene and began piecing together what happened. Authorities are reviewing the crash report, WPBF reports.
Officials have not announced any charges as detectives work to determine how the SUV ended up inside a lane that had been closed for the triathlon.
