BANGKOK (AP) — A Chilean
cyclist's quest to bike around the world in five years has ended with his death
in a road accident in northeast Thailand, police said Sunday.
Juan Francisco Guillermo,
47, was hit by a pickup truck and immediately killed Saturday on a highway in
Nakhon Ratchasima province.
According to police and
accounts on social media, Guillermo was attempting to set a Guinness World
Record by cycling 250,000 kilometers (155,350 miles) on five continents in five
years. His journey started in November 2010 and was scheduled to end in
November this year.
Guillermo's wife from Hong
Kong, who was on another bicycle with their 2-year-old son, suffered a slight
sprain in the accident, said police Col. Torsak Thammingmongkol. It was not clear
how long they had accompanied Guillermo in his round-the-world cycling odyssey.
The driver of the pickup
truck was arrested on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving and
released on bail, said Torsak. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 10
years in prison.
"It was an accident
caused by the driver's recklessness. The road was straight and the cyclist was
in his own lane," the officer said.
The death comes as
Thailand's government is trying hard to promote bicycling for commuting, sport
and tourism.
In February 2013, a British
couple on a similar round-the-world quest was killed in a road accident in
eastern Thailand.
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