Veteran cyclist Earl McCloud was hit by a Coast Guard vehicle while riding alone in the Tucker Valley area of Chaguaramas on Monday morning. He is listed as being in critical condition at Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he is said to be undergoing reconstructive surgery.
McLoud is a regular member of the Heatwave team, having competed in the Masters 60-69 category at several national events this year.
The incident comes six months after the inside lane around the Queen's Park Savannah was granted to cyclists on week days during designated hours.
At the time, it was reported that the Chaguaramas Development Authority was being encouraged to provide the necessary infrastructure to elevate the Chaguaramas Golf Course circuit into a "Safe Cycling Zone."
Share the Road T&T, an organisation dedicated towards safety for road cyclists, released the following statement on their Facebook page this week.
"This is a stark reminder of the dangers all cyclists face each time they take to the road and a further reason for the cycling community to do everything that they can to change the culture of driving and cycling awareness in T&T. Get involved and help us to be more proactive, its a matter of life and death."
The organisation was formed following the death of former national cyclist and coach Clinton Grant, who died while riding along the Audrey Jeffers Highway last year.