HOPE — The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help after a male bicyclist was found dead alongside a rural county road in mid-July.
On Sunday, July 14, the bicyclist, retired Columbus Dr. Robert W. Petry, left the roadway near the intersection of North County Road 475 East and East County Road 550 North, between Columbus and Hope. The area was surrounded by farm fields, and Chicken Creek ran along the roadway.
He was board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Allergy. On July 16, 1984, he opened his practice in Columbus, Indiana. It was a thriving practice. He retired on July 31, 2018.
Family members told police that Dr. Petry frequently rode his bike between Columbus and Hope near his home.
Petry, 72, died after his bike left the road. Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting has not yet issued an official autopsy report pending receiving past medical reports and toxicology reports. According to the family, Coroner Nolting told them Dr. Petry had died from a broken neck.
Dr. Robert W. Petry was wearing a green fluorescent shirt.
Nolting said authorities were alerted to the accident after receiving a call from Dr. Petry’s wife, Rosanne, who knew her husband’s usual route of travel and said he didn’t return as expected.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department believes Dr. Petry took off for the bike ride at about 9 a.m. Deputies located Petry at the crash scene at about 2:30 p.m. on July 14 after his wife reported he had not returned home.
The department said, “The investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office is seeking relevant information as to why the bicyclist left the roadway, resulting in the accident.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Dane Duke at 812-565–5943
