One of the ten-thousand bicycle riders taking part in the annual bike ride across the state was killed early this (Monday) morning. Officials say one person was killed last night in Sheldon, an overnight-stop on RAGBRAI. 27-year-old Michael Thomas Burke from New York City was camping with two of his friends at a residence in Sheldon when a severe thunderstorm struck the area at approximately 1 AM. High winds and heavy rainfall caused a large tree branch to fall on Burke’s tent, killing him instantly. The O’Brien County medical examiner pronounced Burke dead at the scene. Burke’s friends were uninjured in the incident.
