Bicyclist, 60, killed in crash in Gibsonburg triathlon

GIBSONBURG - An Ohio athlete participating in a triathlon Sunday in Gibsonburg died after a crash during the bicycling segment of the event, organizers said.

Authorities on Monday identified the victim as Dr. Mark Wladecki, 60, a physician from Avon Lake.

The Ohio Highway Patrol said Wladecki was westbound on a bicycle on Township Road 55 when he was struck by a 2013 GMC Acadia driven by Wayne Groweg, 74, of Gibsonburg, who was southbound on Sandusky County County Road 32.

Wladecki failed to stop at stop sign as he entered the intersection, the patrol said in a news release, and struck the left fender of the vehicle before being thrown off his bicycle. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, the report said.

No charges or citations have been issued, the patrol said.

One of the participants said it is the norm for bicyclists to go through stop signs during races, relying on organizers to stop any oncoming traffic.

"There were 200 people in the race and every one of us ran the stop sign. By the grace of God any of us could have been killed," he said. "This poor man was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Tom Hoffman, president of Sandusky County Positive People, said Wladecki had finished the swim portion of the triathlon in White Star Quarry before riding his bicycle 22 miles in the next segment of the event.

"We all were shocked and stunned and extend our sympathy to the family and everyone involved," Hoffman said.

The nonprofit Positive People group was the beneficiary of the event, officially called the White Star 5K and Multisport Festival, Hoffman said.

He said the organizer of the competition was All Sports Timing and Race Management, based in Columbus. 

The highway patrol said the crash occurred at 8:46 a.m. Hoffman said all events were canceled afterward.

Weather did not appear to be a factor during the race, Hoffman said, although the start of the multisport festival had been delayed a half hour because of lightning in the area.

Hoffman said after the athletes were called in and the announcement was made, some of the participants held a prayer service honoring the deceased and his family.

Wladecki was board certified in otolaryngology — head and neck surgery, pediatric and adult, specializing in ear disease, balance disorders, sinus diseas, and pediatric ENT problems, according to his medical office's website.

He was a native of Elyria, where his father practiced otolaryngology for over 30 years.

dyonke@gannett.com

419-565-1613

davidyonke1@twitter.com