© In this Aug. 20, 2007, file photo, Kyle Bennett of the United States does a bar-twist as he clears a jump during qualifying for the UCI BMX Supercross race at the Olympic BMX course in Beijing.
HOUSTON (AP) — Olympic BMX cyclist Kyle Bennett has been killed in an automobile accident in eastern Texas. He was 33.
A statement from USA Cycling says the single-vehicle crash happened early Sunday in Conroe, Texas, north of Houston.
Bennett was a three-time BMX world champion and won an automatic spot on the first U.S. BMX Olympic team in 2008.
In the statement, USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson said Bennett was a pioneer in Olympic BMX cycling and an inspiration to those who knew him.
Bennett is survived by his fiancé and a young daughter.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.