52 year-old Cheryl Tye was doing what she loved most, competing, when she was hit from behind by a van and killed at Cycling Club Breckland’s 50-mile East District time trial championship race outside Norfolk, England on Sunday morning according to police.

Emergency paramedics, including rescue air ambulance, were dispatched to the scene, but their efforts to save Tye were in vain and she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

The driver of the van did not stop to render aid and fled the scene of the crash around 09:30. Police have no witnesses to the crash, but are searching for a blue Citroen Dispatch delivery van with possible damage to the front, windshield and/or left side. They also are requesting drivers who were in the area at the time to review any dash cam footage they may have and contact the Norfolk Serious Collision Investigation Unit with possible leads.  

A very successful multi-sport athlete with the Plomesgate Cycling Club, Tye had recently set a new personal best 10-mile time of 27:44 and was taking part in the championship race, along with her husband Chris, on the A11 motorway between Croxton and Eccles.

“She loved doing triathlons and all sport, gardening and looking after four gerbils. She was my soulmate, a beautiful spirit and I loved the time I had with her,” Chris wrote afterwards on social media.

Former colleague and Hadleigh mayor Frank Minns said of Tye, “Her death is a terrible tragedy, and the only comfort I can find in it is that it happened while she was doing the thing she loved best, competing.”

Photos: Norfolk Police, Chris Tye