Ironman athlete Brian Kozera died in a tragic bicycle crash while training for an upcoming competition in Caernarvon Township, Pennsylvania, at the age of 44.
Reports indicate Kozera’s bicycle crashed into a car on Saturday at 9:48 a.m. after he ran a stop sign and hit the passenger side of a pickup truck, according to TMZ. Kozera was reportedly thrown from his bike and got caught in the rear wheel of the vehicle. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Ironman athlete Brian Kozera tragically died at 44 years old in a terrifying bicycle crash. https://t.co/7TeZuvlWH3
— TMZ (@TMZ) August 17, 2022
Kozera was a 16-year veteran of the Norristown Police Department and a beloved member of the community. The Norristown Fraternal Order Of Police Lodge 31 revealed that Kozera was in the middle of training for the Ironman World Championships, which are scheduled to take place in Hawaii in October, according to TMZ.
The Norristown Police Department issued a statement offering their condolences to Kozera’s family, and paid their final respects to the veteran officer. “Today we recieved tragic news that one of our own, 16 year veteran Cpl. Brian Kozera, has passed away from injuries during an off duty accident. Praying for his family and friends during this difficult time,” the police department tweeted.
The athlete was a cancer survivor, and said his battle with a very rare form of cancer called Lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin’s lymphoma pushed him to overcome his struggles and become an Ironman athlete, according to TMZ. He died before being able to complete the last three events scheduled to take place prior to the competition in Hawaii.
Today we recieved tragic news that one of our own, 16 year veteran Cpl. Brian Kozera, has passed away from injuries during an off duty accident. Praying for his family and friends during this difficult time 🖤💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/R5eL2cb0Wa
— Norristown Police (@Norristownpd) August 14, 2022
Kozera participated in his first full Ironman in June 2016 and managed to complete six total 140.6-mile competitions prior to his death, according to Bleacher Report.
Brian is survived by his wife and three young daughters, according to TMZ.