Our worst fear. Our greatest possible loss.

Beth Kobeszka (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) was struck by a vehicle and killed during Saturday’s Proctor road race near Brimfield, Ill.

Doctors declared her brain dead upon arrival at the hospital. She was kept on life support, then allowed to pass Saturday evening with her family at her side.

The crash occurred in the finishing stretch of the women’s 4’s race. My understanding is that she was bumped across the centerline and came into the path of the truck, which was towing a horse trailer. The course is known to have narrow roads, but I do not have information about the conditions at that point of the road, and I have not yet cared to probe or speculate.

Beth was 24, an honors graduate from Northwestern and an organ donor.

Her last race was the Cobb Park Criterium. She came in first.

And she was a teammate of mine.

We called her “Beth K.,” because there already was a Beth on the team, and what daredevil tries to pronounce that name anyhow?

She joined us this year, and I did not get the chance to know her well enough to do her service here. But just from the few times I met her, I know that she was spunky, smart and supportive. As a cyclist, she was talented and selfless.

I invite friends and family to use the comments here to tell us more.

Here is a story from the local ABC affiliate. There is also a brief in the Peoria Journal Star, but its comments have already been filled with so much bile and ignorance that I cannot in good conscience link to it.

Here is a gallery of photos at the XXX Racing-AthletiCo site. Non-teammates who would like to upload photos can e-mail them to me.

I will update this post as there is more information available. There will be opportunities for memorial and tribute, but details have not been announced.

7/2
9 a.m.: Here is a more complete story from the Journal Star, but again the comment section has been visited by uninformed, occasionally hateful debate about roads.

11 a.m.: Here are two stories from the NBC affiliate, with videos: “Cyclist Dies in Crash,” “Cyclists React to Crash”

5:30 p.m.: Local teams are sharing their condolences: Team Clif Bar Midwest, North Branch Cycling, Team Get a Grip Cycles. In addition, I am told that Turin has committed its winnings from the weekend toward Beth’s memory, and the women of XXX have been particularly grateful for the love and support of Team Kenda Tire.

10:30 p.m.: The Chicago Tribune has a story in Tuesday’s paper: “Cyclist aiming for another win killed in race.”

10:45 p.m.: CyclingNews has a story, “Cyclist killed in midwest road race,” which includes comments from another participant in the race. “I just saw people getting tangled,” said Katie Haft (Morris Trucking), “and one woman fell into the side of the trailer.” Haft mentions prior violations of the centerline rule, but I’ll note that no witness has asserted that such a violation

— by Beth or any other rider —

led to the fatal crash.

11 p.m.: Visitation will be Thursday afternoon and evening, July 5, at the Fagen-Miller Funeral Home, 2828 Highway Ave., Highland, Ind. A funeral will be held Friday morning. Check back here or at XXX Racing for location and time.

The family has not yet named a benefactor for memorial contributions. In the meantime, funds can be sent to the team, which will hold them and distribute them per the family’s wishes. Information about a bank account for this purpose will be available later this week.

7/3
12:30 a.m.: Chicago’s NBC affiliate ran a story tonight including comments from coach Randy Warren and cyclist Francine Haas (Alberto’s).

11 a.m.: Parade laps will be ridden in Beth’s honor at tonight’s Matteson races and Thursday night at the Northbrook Velodrome.

1:30 p.m.: Arrangement information has been released. The wake Thursday will be from 2-8 p.m. at Fagen-Miller Funeral Home, 2828 Highway Ave. A funeral service will be held there Friday at 10 a.m., after which there will be a procession to Our Lady Of Grace Cemetery. (Please note the corrected time. Also, Highland is in the central time zone.)

2 p.m.: The Northwest Times of Indiana has a story: “Highland native killed in bike race accident.”

6 p.m.: Gigi Norcross (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) has uploaded photos from Friday’s criterium, including the parade lap ridden in Beth’s honor.

7/4
1:30 p.m.: The Northwest Times of Indiana now has an obituary, which includes a Legacy guestbook.

7:30 p.m.: The Fagen-Miller Funeral Home also has a condolence book.

7/6
1:30 p.m.: I just returned from Beth’s funeral services. Mourners from the many families that Beth touched filled every seat at the funeral home and spilled into the hall and adjacent rooms. The sermon naturally included a drafting metaphor: As we let ourselves be pulled, so must we pull for others.

2 p.m.: Here is an affecting account of the crash and of knowing Beth from Brooke Schuman (Kenda).

3 p.m.: The Daily Northwestern has a story: “Northwestern alum dies in cycling accident.”

7/7
1:30 p.m.: NUSports has a story, including a picture of Beth running cross-country in college.

7/10
8 a.m.: Various cycling communities are discussing the crash, usually leading to a discussion of the importance of the centerline rule. (I’ll reiterate: Nobody has yet said Beth or anyone else was intentionally violating the rule at the time of the crash.) In St. Louis, a secondhand account claims the truck was going very fast, an allegation I’ve heard other women in the race make. In Minnesota, a witness also estimates the truck was going at least 40 mph and adds that the crash had begun before the truck was within sight.

A discussion on preventability is an important one, but although I provide these two links, I do not want to start one here. I’d like the comments to remain about Beth, and comments about the centerline rule will not be approved.

5:30 p.m.: Beth’s family has named the Hancock County Community Foundation as a memorial benefactor. Tax-deductable donations can be mailed to her mother: Vicki Kobeszka; 1536 Misty Oaks Drive; Findlay, OH 45840. Include your name and address.