College champion Jake Boykin killed by hit and run driver
Jake Boykin a 25-year-old Florida State University graduate student was killed by a hit and run driver on Sept. 22 while on a training ride.
USA Cycling posted the news to Facebook: “According to documents obtained from the Florida Highway Patrol, a driver struck Boykin while he was cycling in Jefferson County, Florida on Friday, September 22nd. Friends and family shared that Boykin was on his final training ride before heading to North Georgia to compete in the Six Gap Century.”
Media outlets quoted the police report stating that Boykin’s bicycle was found “a short time later” with “the bike impaled into the front grill area” of the truck, which was driven by a 60-year-old man.
The crash took place as Boykin was riding south on Wacissa Springs Road, east of Tallahassee.
According to USA Cycling, Boykin was a Ph.D. student specializing in Muscle Physiology at Florida State University. He earned his Master’s of Science in Kinesiology from Texas Tech in 2022 and his Bachelor’s from Gustavus Adolphus College where he played on the school’s football team.
In May, he won the Club Time Trial for FSU Cycling and also earned fourth in the Overall Men’s Open at the 2023 USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.
The USA Cycling post also included a statement from Boykin’s family and friends: “For every bit as incredible a cyclist as Jake was, he managed to be an even more incredible human being. His enthusiasm for life was infectious as was his passion to make himself and others better. His willingness to invest in listening, supporting and truly loving everyone that he came into contact with was awe-inspiring. Both on the bike and off, Jake was a force. He was the bright ray of sunshine that this world needs more of. The Tallahassee cycling community is shocked and saddened by his tragic passing, but more than anything, we are immensely honored and privileged to have been given the gift of his companionship. We love you, Jake! May you rest in peace.”