A Sedalia man was killed when he was struck by a vehicle while riding a bike Friday evening in Pettis County.
According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, around 7 p.m. Marty L. Kropf, 26, of Smithton, was driving east on state Route HH, east of Olive Branch Road, when he rear-ended a bicyclist, Patrick K. Gwaltney, 51. Gwaltney was ejected from his bike into a ditch.
Kropf continued traveling eastbound for several hundred feet before coming to rest.
Gwaltney was pronounced dead at the scene by Pettis County Coroner Robert Smith.
Reports indicate Kropf was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident and Gwaltney was not wearing a helmet.
According to his obituary, Gwaltney was a Smith-Cotton High School graduate. He owned and operated Patrick Kent’s Lounge in Sedalia and worked for Ditzfeld Transfer for the last 12 years. He was also active in the local athletics community, coaching for the Sedalia Football League and several area traveling teams, as well as serving as the defensive coordinator for the Sedalia Outlaws.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Smith-Cotton Junior High School gymnasium, 312 E. Broadway Blvd. Arrangements are under the direction of Heckart Funeral Home in Sedalia.
