A Georgia Tech assistant professor died Saturday after being hit by a car while bicycling in the Florida Panhandle.
Kurt Lang Frankel, 33, of Atlanta was riding a bicycle along the shoulder of U.S. 98 in south Walton County about 8:30 a.m. Saturday when he was struck by a Mercedes, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported.
Frankel was an assistant professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech.
The Daily News reported that the driver of the Mercedes Benz C240, 19-year-old Alexandra Elise Alford, was headed east in the outside lane when she hit the back of Frankel's bicycle, knocking him from the bike.
Frankel, who was wearing a helmet when he was hit, died about 45 minutes later at Sacred Heart Hospital.
According to Georgia Tech's website, Frankel earned his bachelor's degree in geological sciences from the University of North Carolina in 2000, a master's degree in geological sciences from Lehigh University in 2002 and a Ph.D. in geological sciences from the University of Southern California in 2007.
Georgia Tech President G.P. "Bud" Peterson released the following statement Sunday afternoon:
"It was with great sadness that I learned of Kurt's tragic accident this morning. This is a loss for the entire Georgia Tech community, but especially for his colleagues and students in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. On behalf of Georgia Tech, please accept our compassion and support, and know that our thoughts are with you during this difficult time."
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