Support The Moscow Times!

U.S. Cyclist Killed in Hit-and-Run to Be Cremated in Russia

Ron McGerity

After making a name for himself by cycling through more than 50 countries on a quest to make the world a better place, a U.S. man may be cremated in Russia after being killed in a drunken hit-and-run last month.

A spokesperson from the regional administration of Ivanov, where Ron McGerity was killed, said his relatives had initially planned to travel to Russia to collect the body but later sent a letter asking that he be cremated and his ashes sent to the U.S., Interfax reported Tuesday.

One of McGerity's relatives contacted The Moscow Times to dispute that claim, however, as well as earlier reports of no one coming forward to claim the body. McGerity's close relative said that the family had been in constant contact with the U.S. Embassy over his burial. The family had been told that the process to reclaim the body would take weeks due to the criminal investigation over his death, she said. 

“We are hoping to solidify the plans for Ron's remains through the contacts at the Embassy. We were informed that this process would take weeks due to the criminal investigation. We wait for news with heavy hearts,” she said.

Earlier, RIA Novosti reported that McGerity might be buried in a Russian cemetary if no one came forward to claim his body. 

McGerity, 61, was killed in a hit-and-run collision with a drunk driver on July 24 while riding his bike along a federal highway from Kostroma to Ivanovo in central Russia. The driver was later apprehended and determined to have been drunk behind the wheel, ITAR Tass reported. The case against him is ongoing.

The globetrotting cyclist, who had already toured four continents, had arrived in Russia with plans to cycle the popular Golden Ring, a route festooned with ancient towns around Moscow.

He had been staging such expeditions since 1995 in order to raise money for various charities.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow declined to comment on the matter out of concern and respect for McGerity's family.

See also:

Globetrotting U.S. Cyclist Killed in Russia

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more