ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- A bicyclist was airlifted to the hospital after suffering serious injuries in a crash on Pierce Road Thursday afternoon.

The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. in the 11000 block of Pierce Road.

A Jeep was traveling westbound when it struck the rear of the bicycle.

The St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team says the bicyclist, Dr. Dereck Klopfenstein, 49, was in the appropriate lane one food inside the white line at the time of the crash.

His helmet came off in the collision, reports said.

Dr. Klopfenstein was airlifted to the hospital with a serious head injury.

The driver of the Jeep was not injured and cooperated with investigators.

Alcohol and speed are not believed to be factors in the crash.