A teenage bicycle rider was hit by a Regional Transit System bus Wednesday evening at the intersection of Southwest 35th Place and Southwest 23rd Terrace.
Gainesville Police Department Cpl. Victor Norman said police could not release the cyclist's name.
Norman said the cyclist was alive when he was taken to the hospital. He did not know whether the teenager was wearing a helmet.
The young man was riding a blue Kona brand road bike with the words "Jake the Snake" across the frame. The bicycle's tires were twisted and broken.
A bike lock, iPod headphones and a torn white T-shirt were lying about 12 feet from the bicycle.
Norman said it was very possible the teenager was listening to the iPod when he rode in front of the bus.
The bus driver was given a routine blood test for alcohol, but witnesses told police the cyclist had not been paying attention, and the bus probably could not have stopped in time, Norman said.
Several of the 15 passengers on the Route 9 bus were questioned about the accident, he said.
Police blocked Southwest 23rd Terrace south from its intersection with Southwest 35th Place down to Williston Road.
Heavy rain prolonged the investigation of the accident, and traffic was stopped for several hours.
