Olympic Cyclist Dies After Husband Allegedly Hit Her With A Ute

Melissa Hoskins after winning the team pursuit at the 2015 UCI Track World ChampionshipsPhoto: Haslin Frederic/Corbis (Getty Images)

World champion cyclist Melissa Hoskins was killed on December 30 when her husband Rohan Dennis allegedly struck and killed her with his Volkswagen ute in Adelaide, South Australia. Dennis was charged with death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life, according to ABC. Dennis is also an accomplished cyclist, recently retiring as a two-time world champion.

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It’s not clear how the incident happened, but local police have watched surveillance camera footage of the incident, the Adelaide Advertiser reports. Hoskins apparently jumped onto the vehicle’s hood while Dennis was driving. The 33-year-old didn’t stop as his wife clung to the hood and attempted to reach for the door handle. Hoskins fell to the ground and was seriously injured. She died after being rushed to a local hospital.

The couple both represented Australia at the Olympics during their careers. Hoskins retired from professional cycling in 2017 at 26 years old, married Dennis in 2018 and had two children. He retired last year after two seasons with the Tour de France winners Team Jumbo-Visma. The pair was scheduled to headline a recreational “family ride” later this month at the Tour Down Under, the season-opening event for the UCI World Tour.

Dennis was released on bail and is set to appear before the Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 13.