Bicyclist dies of injuries from Saratoga Springs accident

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bethany Bump

The 63-year-old Malta man who crashed his bike into a mail truck Monday morning died this afternoon from injuries sustained in the accident, according to Saratoga Springs police.

Police have identified the victim as Kenneth Phelps, and say he passed away at 5 p.m. They said it is unknown whether he was distracted or had some type of medical emergency leading up to the accident.

No tickets were issued.

Phelps was riding his bike Monday at 11:27 a.m. on Crescent Avenue, just south of Union Avenue, when he struck the back of a U.S. Postal Service truck and collapsed to the ground. The truck, which was facing south, was being operated by postal service employee Paul Evers, who had stopped on Crescent to deliver mail.

An investigation determined that the truck was stopped at the time with its flashers on while Evers was making the delivery.

When police first arrived on the scene they found Phelps off the side of the road being tended to by witnesses. Phelps was taken to Saratoga Hospital for treatment, and soon after was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in critical condition.