A 35-year-old Falmouth resident riding a bicycle was killed Saturday evening when a vehicle struck him on Prosper Road in Clam Union Township, according to the Missaukee County Sheriff's Office. The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene after deputies were dispatched to the area between 8 Mile and 9 Mile roads at approximately 6:09 p.m.
The crash occurred in the area of Prosper Road between 8 Mile and 9 Mile Road, according to Cadillac News. A preliminary investigation found that the bicycle and the vehicle were both traveling eastbound when the vehicle struck the bicycle, the outlet reported. The driver, a 59-year-old Falmouth resident, suffered no injuries, per the same account.
Darkness, Dark Clothing and No Bike Lights
Investigators said the bicyclist was riding in the travel portion of the roadway after dark while wearing dark clothing, according to UpNorthLive. That outlet also reported that the bicycle was not equipped with any lights at the time of the collision.
Speed and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the accident, the sheriff's office said, as reported by Cadillac News. The Clam Union Township Fire Department assisted at the scene, per UpNorthLive, and the crash remains under investigation by the Missaukee County Sheriff's Office, that outlet noted. 9&10 News also reported on the fatal collision this week.
A Rise in Bicyclist Deaths Statewide
The crash comes amid a broader rise in bicyclist deaths across Michigan. Bicyclist fatalities rose 21%, from 29 deaths in 2024 to 35 in 2025, according to Michigan State Police crash data reported by WLNS. A separate Michigan State Police release noted that bicyclist-involved crashes in 2024 rose 20% to 1,773, with bicyclist fatalities climbing 21% to 29 that year, according to the State of Michigan.
The League of Michigan Bicyclists' executive director pointed to distracted driving and the size and shape of newer vehicles as other factors that can increase the severity of crashes involving bicyclists, according to WLNS. That statewide context does not explain the cause of Saturday's crash in Clam Union Township, which remains under active investigation.
