Man riding a bike killed in Clovis

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Family and friends are mourning the death of a Clovis man after a car hit him as he rode his bicycle Wednesday morning. Clovis Police were called to the scene near Shaw and Highland early Wednesday.

"About 6:06 this morning we received a report of a vehicle vs. a bicyclist accident," said John Weader, Clovis Police.

They determined that 49-year-old Patrick TeNyenhuis had been hit by a car while riding his bicycle in the bike lane on Shaw Avenue. He died at the scene. He was wearing a helmet. It's not clear why the accident occurred.

"Right now we have both vehicles going in the same direction. So we essentially have a rear end accident. The complexity to it, is not only do you have a bicycle in a bicycle lane but you have a car that strikes him from behind in that bicycle lane. So part of the investigation is how did that vehicle get into the bicycle lane," said Weader.

While police are still trying to piece together how this happened they said the driver of the Toyota sedan that hit him stopped and cooperated with police. He has not been charged.

TeNyenhuis is survived by his wife and two daughters. He worked as a physical therapist and often rode his bike early in the morning.

He was known by many as a local bluegrass musician.

His family said he just celebrated his 49th birthday last week at the Paul McCartney concert.

The family issued a statement saying, "We are mourning the loss of an amazing man. He was a wonderful son, husband, father, brother, and friend. We appreciate the kind thoughts and prayers of the Clovis community and ask for privacy as we grieve."

Funeral arrangements for TeNyenhuis are pending.

Clovis Police tell Action News that with the warmer weather have been several collisions between bicycles and cars in recent weeks, and are urging drivers to remember to share the roadway. State law requires drivers keep a safe distance from bicyclists.