A man died Wednesday after he was struck by an SUV on Highway 20 while trying to cross the road on a motorized bicycle.

The accident occurred at 3:40 p.m. about a half-mile north of Oak Harbor city limits, said Mark Francis, public information officer for the Washington State Patrol.

The victim, Kelly Wayne Shields, 49, of Anacortes, was leaving the parking lot of Liberty Market when he attempted to cross the highway, according to State Patrol reports.

Francis said Brian K. Williams, 52, of Burlington was driving in a Black Ford Expedition northbound on Highway 20 when Shields pulled out in front of him.

Shields died at the scene.

“He wasn’t wearing a helmet,” Francis said. “Though I’m not sure it’d make a difference.

“It was fatal from the get-go.”

Police said they do not believe Williams was impaired and said he voluntarily submitted to testing, Francis said.

The cause of the accident was Shields’ failure to yield, according to the State Patrol, and no charges against Williams are pending.

Highway 20 was temporarily closed while police investigated. Traffic was routed around the accident, but did cause backups in both directions.

In an email sent to the Whidbey News-Times, Robert Berka said, “He was my very good friend. He died in front of me. He will be missed.”