A German cyclist was killed in a freak road accident when he rode into the back of a parked truck.

Armin Christoph Wieland, 61, from Munich, was speeding along the hard shoulder of the dual carriageway when he failed to notice the stationary vehicle in Rayong, eastern Thailand, on Saturday morning December 17.

The driver, who had pulled over to eat breakfast, said he heard a 'thud' on the back of the lorry. He was horrified when he went out to look and saw Armin in a crumpled heap alongside his broken bicycle.

Suchan said: 'The accident happened when I was not driving. I had stopped to rest and eat food and the warning lights were on the back.

'Then I heard a loud thud. I thought it could have been a motorcycle but then I saw the man on his bicycle. It was loud so when he hit my truck.'

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene of the accident. They found that Armin was already dead with no pulse and his body was taken away in an ambulance to the local hospital for a post-mortem examination to be performed.

Devastated friends said that Armin had moved to Thailand several years ago. He had been renting his home in Rayong province, close to the party town of Pattaya, for six years and competed in amateur cycling road racing events.

Neighbour Rattanarin said: 'I have given Armin's personal documents to the police. They have told his family about the situation.'

Friend Maxim Pashnin said: 'Rest in peace, Armin Wieland. Let the roads be nice for you in heaven.'

David Hughes added: 'Deepest condolences and sympathy to all of Armin's family and friends. Because of these cycling accidents and personal incidents I've had to give up my love of this sport here in Rayong. It shouldn't have to be this way. There are too many careless and dangerous Thai drivers on the road.'