Man on bicycle killed in collision with train

10/22/2006

ERIE A 68-year-old Point Place resident died after he was struck by a train Friday night while riding his bicycle in Monroe County s Erie Township.

Herbert A. Heidelberg, 4275 Rose Point Ct., was struck about 6:30 p.m. on Suder Avenue at the railroad crossing north of Dean Road. He was transported to Toledo Hospital, where he died, Erie Township Police Chief William Hines said.

The railroad gates were down and activated when Mr. Heidelberg, while southbound on Suder, was seen trying to ride past them. He was not wearing a helmet, the chief said.

Karen Murphy, Mr. Heidelberg s daughter, said her father was training to ride with her in the annual Bike-to-the-Bay benefit next year.

Mr. Heidelberg grew up in Point Place, graduated from Woodward High School, and was a boiler operator at a food processing plant in Rossford, she said.

The chief said the train was moving about 35 mph.