Olympic BMX cyclist Kyle Bennett has been killed in an automobile accident in eastern Texas. He was 33.
A statement from USA Cycling says the single-vehicle crash happened early Sunday in Conroe, Texas, north of Houston.
Officers say Bennett was apparently on the way to help his fiancé, after she called saying someone had broken into her vehicle.
Bennett was driving at a high rate of speed according to the Houston Chronicle when his pickup flipped and rolled through a ditch and crashed through the gate of a private residence.
Texas Public Safety officers say the Olympic athlete was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Bennett was a three-time BMX world champion and won an automatic spot on the first U.S. BMX Olympic team in 2008.
He trained at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center and can be seen in this video at the track in 2011.
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San Diego athlete and U.S. Olympic BMX athlete Mike Day posted Instagrams taken when the two men were training for Beijing 2008 posting, "A good friend, legend, Olympic team mate, and the best to ever do it was taken way to early."
In the statement, USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson said Bennett was a pioneer in Olympic BMX cycling and an inspiration to those who knew him.
Bennett, who started biking at the age of seven, was raised by his mother's parents in Conroe, Texas NBC Sports reported.
His mother Donnel used to own a cleaning business, and Bennett would work for her at night while training during the day before he started to get sponsorships.
Bennett is survived by his fiance and a young daughter.
