Bicyclist killed in Lutz was 55-year-old Land O'Lakes man

LUTZ -- Bicyclist Earl Arthur James, 55, of Land O'Lakes was killed at 6:40 a.m. today in Lutz when he was hit by a pickup truck, Florida Highway Patrol officials said.

James, of 4739 Lake Ellis Lane, was riding west on a crosswalk at Lutz Lake Fern Road and U.S. Highway 41 when he was struck.

John Thomas Olscwa, 61, of New Port Richey, was driving his Ford F-10 truck south on U.S. 41, approaching the traffic signal, which was green, officials said.

The front of the pickup struck James, throwing him into the truck's windshield, officials said. The force of the impact threw his bicycle into an SUV, which was stopped in the northbound lane. The SUV, a Chevy Suburban, was not involved in the accident, officials said.

--Jackie Ripley, Times staff writer