North Liberty bicyclist killed in collision with truck

NORTH LIBERTY — A Coe College professor was doing what he loved Tuesday morning when he was hit by a truck and killed.

Daniel A. Lehn, 58, of North Liberty died after his recumbent bicycle — a type of bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back, reclining position — was struck on Highway 965 in Johnson County.

Lehn's brother, Matthew Lehn, of Huntertown, Indiana, said Daniel was an avid cyclist.

'He very much loved it,' he said. 'I think for him, it was just a great form of exercise. He just took great joy in going out for his bike rides.'

The Iowa State Patrol said Lehn was northbound around 6:30 a.m. when he was struck by a GMC Sierra driven by Devin J. Disterhoft, 27, of Tiffin, near the intersection of Meadow Road NE, just north of North Liberty. Sgt. Nathan Ludwig said Lehn was hit from behind and said the crash remains under investigation. No citations have been issued, according to police reports.

Lehn, who was wearing a helmet, was taken via ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where he died from his injuries.

The speed limit on that section of Highway 965 is 55 mph. The single-lane road is bordered by a gravel shoulder on both sides.

Mark Wyatt, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, said he rode the stretch occasionally when he lived in North Liberty, and time of day made a lot of difference in what the conditions were like.

'Highway 965 is no different than any other road in Iowa. It can be busy during certain times of the day.  For someone who lived along the road, that may be their only connection to work or other cycling routes,' he said.

Earlier this week, the coalition started a petition demanding state leaders take action to prevent bicyclist fatalities. Short of policy changes and laws giving vulnerable road users the benefit of the doubt, the number of bike fatalities will continue to increase, Wyatt said.

'An extraordinary guy'

Matthew Lehn described his brother — the third born of six boys in the family — as 'just an extraordinary guy.'

'He is, of all my brothers, he's kind of the most caring and compassionate one of all of us,' Matthew Lehn said.

Lehn was the kind of guy who remembered all of his nieces and nephews and made sure to send a birthday card to them all, his brother said. Daniel Lehn had two stepchildren and a grandson.

Lehn was a professor of psychology at Coe College who also served as associate dean of the faculty, according to Coe spokesman Rod Pritchard. He had been with Coe since 1993.

'Dan was known for his keen sense of humor and quick wit and he was regarded as a first-rate teacher and scholar,' said Coe College President David McInally in a statement. 'He was beloved by students, alumni, faculty and staff. Dan was a kind, gentle, dedicated and joy-filled member of our community — our brightest light. He brought smiles to many faces each day and he will be sorely missed on the campus.'

Matthew Lehn said his brother had a number of careers. He was a chemical engineer and a math teacher before coming to Coe.

'He's really an intelligent guy,' he said. 'It's heartbreaking on so many levels.'

He 'loved Coe'

Daniel had previously ridden RAGBRAI, but his brother didn't think he was planning to do so this year. The annual race across Iowa begins Sunday. Along with cycling, his brother 'loved Coe,' he said.

Lehn said on his faculty profile page the people were his favorite part of working at Coe.

'That's why I took the job and that's why I have always loved it here,' his page reads. 'The people at Coe — students, staff and faculty — care about their jobs and they care about each other.'

Lehn's profile page says he attended high school in Fairfield, Connecticut before earning his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut and his doctorate in experimental social psychology from Dartmouth.

On the page, Lehn references his love for cycling.

'Due to a knee injury back in my youth, I had to give up playing basketball (much to the delight of my teammates,' he wrote. 'However, during graduate school I began cycling and that continues to be my primary means of keeping my heart ticking.

'Last year I bought a recumbent bike, which is like a recliner on wheels, so I'm enjoying cycling more than ever.'

Pritchard said on-campus counseling is available to faculty, staff and students. He said it is too early to discuss any memorial services for Lehn.

Police said a stretch of Highway 965 was closed for several hours after the crash and was reopened before 10 a.m.