Cyclist killed in crash identified

A 69-year-old part-time resident of Whitefish died Sunday after a bicycle crash on Big Mountain Road.

The man was identified by the Flathead County coroner as Daniel Schoedinger, who was a resident of Columbus, Ohio, but also had a home on Big Mountain.

According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Laramie Stefani, Schoedinger was riding down Big Mountain Road at 1 p.m. on a road bike when a vehicle traveling up the road made a left turn, causing Schoedinger to hit his brakes hard.

Schoedinger was thrown over his handlebars onto the pavement, landing on his head. There was no contact with the vehicle, Stefani said.

Schoedinger was transported to North Valley Hospital and died as a result of his injuries.

The cause of death is listed as a skull fracture. Schoedinger was wearing a helmet and was an experienced, avid bike rider.

Speed doesn’t appear to have been a factor, Stefani said. The accident is under investigation by the Montana Highway Patrol.

The accident occurred on a narrow stretch of Big Mountain Road about 1 mile up from the intersection with East Lakeshore Drive. The speed limit on the stretch of Big Mountain Road is 40 miles per hour.