Westminster police are investigating the circumstances that led to a car striking and killing a bicyclist this afternoon.

The accident occurred around 2 p.m. on 100th Avenue between Simms and Alkire streets, police said.

The crash happened on the two-lane road near the crest of a hill. Westminster Police Investigator Trevor Materasso said that stretch of road has relatively little traffic and no intersections except for one residential driveway.

“That section of roadway does not have a shoulder,” Materasso said. “It requires drivers to go around cyclists.”

Both the car and cyclist were headed west when a green 2005 Kia Sorrento struck the cyclist. Both the driver of the Kia and the cyclist are men. Police have not yet released their names.

Investigators believe the driver was in his 20s and the cyclist was in his 50s. The cyclist was wearing a helmet.

“It’s really too early to know what charges would be filed,” Materasso said. “We don’t have any indications that alcohol was involved, and drug test results take a while.”

The driver stopped and tried to aid the cyclist, but the injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The road was closed around 2:30 p.m. and reopened just before 5 p.m.

Kristen Leigh Painter: 303-954-1638 or kpainter@denverpost.com