By Karen Gleason and Joel Langton
The 830 Times
A well-known local cyclist was injured early Monday morning when a vehicle on U.S. Highway 90 struck him just northwest of Del Rio, Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez has confirmed.
Martinez told the 830 Times cyclist Dexter Tooke, who has competed in long-distance cycling competitions throughout the country, was struck by a 2018 Dodge Journey while he was cycling in the 5000 block of U.S. Highway 90 just northwest of the intersection of U.S. Highways 90 and 277 north of Del Rio.
Known for his orange-framed glasses, Tooke was elected to the World Ultracycling Hall of Fame in 2014. He’s one of the oldest riders to finish the Race Across America, where riders begin with their back bicycle wheel in the Pacific Ocean and have to finish the race in two weeks, with the bike’s front wheel in the Atlantic. He finished the race in 2011.
Tooke set an 873-mile Texas Cross State World Ultracycling Association record of 64 and a-half hours. He is also the founder and organizer for many years of the 200- and 400-mile No Country for Old Men race that kicks off in Alpine, Texas and weaves its way through Big Bend National Park.
Martinez said the collision was called in to the sheriff’s office at 7:54 a.m. and three deputies, along with a team from the county fire department, were dispatched to the scene.
The sheriff said Tooke was transported from the scene via ambulance to the emergency room at Val Verde Regional Medical Center. His condition was not known as of the writing of this article.
The 830 Times is following this story, and more information will be published as it becomes available.
