‘He was a really loving guy’: Friends remember bicyclist killed by live wires in North Park

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — A beloved Central Catholic teacher and avid mountain biker was killed doing what he loved Tuesday evening.

Bob Anderson was electrocuted by live wires while on a trail in North Park, hours after those wires came down and were reported to Duquesne Light Company.

>>> Bicyclist found dead among live wires in North Park

“Bob was more than a bike racer. He was a really loving guy,” Mark Sauers told Channel 11.

Anderson may have been best known for his mountain biking, but to those who knew him best, he was a close friend.

“He was part of this community, and he was a leader. He was a strong guy, one of the best racers around. We’re gonna miss him,” Pat McCloskey said.

McCloskey and Sauers have known Bob for years and were in disbelief when they heard he was electrocuted Tuesday night when he rode his bike over energized power lines.

Sauers was texting with him just before he left for the trail.

“Bob wanted to go out he said ‘I’m going to go and do recon,’” Sauers said

It happened on a trail Bob often biked — near Olympia Grove around 8:30 p.m.

Channel 11 has since learned — a man reported the wires to 911, nearly 12 hours earlier — when he saw them smoking on the trail.

That man gave Channel 11 the below photo, showing how he found the electrical lines on Tuesday morning.

“I don’t understand the circumstances for the power lines. How they can be exposed for so long in a public park?” Sauers said.

Channel 11 also had that same question — and called Duquesne Light multiple times today to ask for an interview, but we never got a call back.

We also learned that police placed caution tape around the lines, blocking the trail from both sides, but they were never de-energized.

“I think, in Bob’s defense, he didn’t ride it knowing obviously. He probably thought it was a tree down, or a hole, or mud off the hill,” Mark added.

While those questions remain unanswered, people across Pittsburgh are remembering Bob.

He was a teacher at Central Catholic.

The school’s president Matthew J. Stoessel told us:

“Mr. Anderson played an important role in educating students on the need for personal health and wellness. He was dedicated to the students entrusted in his care and the mission of Central Catholic.”

His friends say they’ll continue to bike in his honor.

“It was hard walking up here. Just to take a look at it. Just looking where it is right now. We will always think of that when we ride up here,” Pat said.

You can read the full letter Stoessel sent to the Central Catholic community below.

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