UPDATE 17 July 2025: North Carolina State Police have filed charges against the dump truck driver, 34 year-old Cody Dale Mundy. He is charged with two counts of Misdemeanor Death by Vehicle and Driving Left of Center.

A weekly Tuesday evening group training ride in Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, USA turned deadly for two young elite riders on 1 July when they were violently hit head on by a dump truck.

North Carolina State Police report 28 year-old Leonard Antonelli (SUPER SQUARA) and 32 year-old Jacob Hill (SUPRABARS.COM), likely died instantly after they were hit by a dump truck that crossed the center line.

The cyclists were participating in Asheville’s weekly ‘Tuesday Night Worlds’ group ride on a picturesque two-lane road along the French Broad River. A third rider, 29 year-old Griffen Tichenor (SUPER SQUADRA), was also hit but survived with minor injuries.

Antonelli started racing bikes while at Indiana University in 2019 after deciding to enter the world famous Little 500. As a collegiate racer he quickly showed his athletic ability, advancing from rookie rider to an elite Cat1 racer in just a few seasons.:

Hill, on the other hand, was a lifelong member of the elite racing peloton, having participated in hundreds of road events in Oregon, Florida and North Carolina. He also raced in the now shuttered National Racing League and joined the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour series recently, finishing 48th at the Sunny King Criterium in April.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol officers continue to investigate the incident and have not yet filed any charges against the truck driver.

Photo Credit: Andrew Crater

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