He was taking part in the Catoctin Challenge on Saturday.
A Pittsburgh, Pa. man was killed in a bicycle accident in Frederick County over the weekend.
Mark Schneider, 55, was taking part on Saturday in the Catoctin Challenge, which is a charity bike ride from Frederick Community College to Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., when his bike was rounding a turn on Ramsburg Road near Woodsboro. "For some reason, he did lose control of his bike. Unfortunately, there was a big steal metal mailbox, with a pretty stout pole, that he hit, bent in half, and tumbled down into a ditch afterward," says Frederick County State's Attorney Charlie Smith, who was also taking part in the charity bike race on Saturday.
After that crash, Smith says he and his fellow bikers went to Schneider to see if they could help. Woodsboro ambulance crews were dispatched to the scene. "The Medivac {helicopter} responded. And, of course, we were all just praying, that it wasn't a head trauma. And, unfortunately, that what it turned out to be: a pretty severe head trauma that had occurred. Of course, he was wearing his helmet. Again, he was experienced avid cyclist. Just inexplainable, but very sad," says Smith.
Schneider was flown to University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore. He died on Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in an on line article, says Schneider was the chairman of the Sports and Exhibition Authority, and the Stadium Authority, and was instrumental in the development of Heinz Field, PNC Park and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. He was also president of Rubinoff, Inc., which spearheaded the redevelopment of Pittsburgh's waterfront.
Smith says he will not give up bicycling following this accident, but will be more cautious. "I do enjoy cycling. I enjoy triathlon. You have to be careful, but sometimes these things happen. You can get hit walking across the street as well," he says.
