Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Trooper Gabriel Medrano said Cynthia "Cindy" Whitney, 54, of Amarillo, was riding a bicycle about 8:30 a.m. on U.S. Highway 87 near the Hungate Road intersection when she was struck by a 2004 F-250 pickup driven by Thomas Sippy, age unknown, of Canyon. Whitney was pronounced dead at the scene by justice of the peace Jerry Bigham of Canyon. She was wearing a helmet, Medrano said.

Troopers who responded to the accident reported Sippy was southbound on U.S. 287 when he dropped his cell phone and took his eyes off the road to pick it up. His vehicle veered across the highway and hit Whitney, according to the report. Medrano did not know if Sippy was issued a citation. The posted speed limit on that portion of U.S. 287 is 70 mph.

Whitney was a prominent member of the Old Tascosa Cycling club and had served on its board of directors.

--Globe-News staff