Condolences flooded social media Sunday for a beloved former Chester (Pa.) High School basketball coach who was killed Saturday in a bicycle accident near Camden-Wyoming.
Although Delaware State Police have not released the victim’s name pending notification of the next of kin, local media outlets and social media posts identified the victim as 51-year-old Larry Yarbray Sr., a longtime coach and the founder of a bicycling club called Chester Cycling.
According to state troopers, he was riding in a large group of bicyclists in two rows headed north on Apple Grove School Road coming from Allabands Mill Road.
Social media posts state that the group was a part of the 36th annual Amish Country Bike Tour.
Police said Yarbray was riding next to the solid yellow line behind other bicyclists. The bicyclist in front of him began slowing, and the front wheel of Yarbray’s bike struck the rear wheel of the rider in front of him, causing Yarbray to lose control of his bicycle. He swerved sharply to his left and entered the southbound lane.
He was struck by a 2012 gray GMC Sierra traveling south on Apple Grove School Road toward Allabands Mill Road, police said.
He was transported to Bayhealth Kent Campus where he was pronounced deceased. The 23-year-old driver of the Sierra was not injured.
According to a LinkedIn profile for Larry Yarbray Sr., he was the dean of students at Chester Community Charter School and the head coach of the Delaware County Community College men’s basketball team. He was a former varsity boys coach at Chester High School.
Knowledge of Yarbray’s death spread quickly.
Among those reacting to his death was Phil Martinelli, former St. Joseph University men’s basketball coach.
“This hurts my heart !! Larry was a powerful agent of good for Chester, Delco and all of Philly hoops !!! #RIP #PRAYERS,” he wrote on Twitter
Also reacting was Maurice Nelson, younger brother of former NBA player Jameer Nelson Sr. – who had been named an assistant general manager for the Delaware Blue Coats in 2020.
This incident closed Apple Grove School Road for almost 3½ hours while the collision was investigated and the roadway cleared.
The investigation is still active and police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call Sgt. Wheatley of the Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit at 302-698-8518.
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