Crime & Safety

Bike Accident Victim ID'd As Paul Taylor, 53

The funeral will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Oak Grove United Methodist Church.

The bicyclist killed Monday morning in Decatur has been identified as Paul Taylor, 53, known for being a volunteer soccer coach and chairman of the Oak Grove United Methodist Church’s annual barbecue fundraiser.

Taylor was truck by a pickup truck in the 2200 block of North Decatur Road shortly before 6:30 a.m. Monday, Decatur police said. He was pronounced dead at DeKalb Medical.

A.S. Turner & Sons funeral home said visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, at the funeral home at 2773 N. Decatur Road, Decatur, and from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3, at Oak Grove United Methodist Church at 1772 Oak Grove Road, Decatur.

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The funeral will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the church.

Taylor was quoted in the New York Times last October in a story about the 50th anniversary of the fundraising barbecue at Oak Grove United Methodist.

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Paul Taylor, the longtime chairman of the autumn rite, marveled under cerulean skies that not once in 50 years had it been marred by rain. “We always joke that Jesus must love barbecue,” he said (never minding the whole kosher thing). By 1 p.m., the parking lot was its usual nightmare, and the lines of barbecue supplicants, anticipating October’s third Saturday like Christmas, snaked down both sides of the fellowship hall and out the back doors.

The website for CFC East soccer said soccer fields at Pleasantdale Park were Monday out of respect to the family.

The website said,

It is with great sadness that we have to tell you of the death of our U11G Academy parent coach, Paul Taylor.  Paul was riding his bike in the Decatur area early this morning, was struck by a vehicle and died on the way to the hospital. 

 Capt. Scott Richardson said he didn’t know if any charges would be filed.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published photos from the wreck scene.

UPDATE: Decatur police aren't releasing the name of the bicyclist killed Monday morning on North Decatur Road, but Capt. Scott Richards said the victim was a 53-year-old white male who was wearing a bike helmet.

Richards confirmed that a Ford Ranger truck struck the bicylist around 6:30 a.m. in the 2200 block of North Decatur Road. He said the contact occurred on the inside lane of travel.

The driver of the truck did not flee the scene and police are questioning witnesses, Richards said. Richards said he didn't know exactly how the collision occurred or whether any charges would be filed.

The wreck investigation snarled traffic for about three hours, Richards said.

THE EARLIER STORY: A man on a bicycle was struck by a truck and killed early Monday morning at North Decatur Road and Willivee Drive in Decatur.

Tim Hatcher, the assistant Decatur fire chief, said the man was pronounced dead at DeKalb Medical.

He said the man who appeared to be in his early 30s was not carrying any identification papers.

Hatcher said a Ford Ranger pickup truck struck the man, but it's possible other vehicles struck him as well.

Decatur police are investigating the incident. Calls to the police department for information were not returned Monday monring.

Hatcher said the wreck scene was cleared by 8:15 a.m.

Check back to Decatur Patch for more information later in the day.


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