Amsterdam - The man who in 1987 kidnapped and killed one of the top managers of food retail giant Ahold was killed Monday in a traffic accident, the Dutch news agency ANP reported.

Ferdi Elsas, 66, was killed while riding his bike in Vorden in the eastern Netherlands. He died from his injuries shortly after being taken to hospital.

On September 9, 1987, the then unemployed engineer Elsas abducted Ahold's top manager Gerrit Jan Heijn, the grandson of Ahold's founder Albert Heijn, demanding millions of guilders in ransom.

Police later discovered he had killed Heijn just hours after his abduction.

Elsas was caught and sentenced to 20 years in prison and psychiatric treatment. He was released from jail earlier this year.

Royal Ahold BV is an international food retailer with some 3,400 stores worldwide. (dpa)