May 16, 2008

Cyclist crashes, dies on commute

Man was honoring Bike to Work Day; cause of death unknown

By Michael Manekin / Bay Area News Group

A 66-year-old man was found dead Thursday morning after crashing his bicycle on a park trail while commuting to his job on the Bay Area's Bike to Work Day, the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Department reported.

"It was unfortunate that it happened, period, but it's also unfortunate that it happened today," said Parks and Recreation Director Dave Holland.

The man, whose identity was not be released by authorities Thursday afternoon pending notification of his family, was biking north through Coyote Point Park on the way to his job at San Francisco International Airport, Holland said.

He was found dead by another cyclist around 6 a.m. in the northwest corner of the park, near the windsurfing area.

The man apparently crashed into a 3- to 4-foot wood fence sometime between 4:30 and 6 a.m., Holland said.

"We don't know what happened," Holland said.

"We don't know if he had something like a stroke or a heart attack happen before hitting it, or if the death was caused by hitting the barrier."

The man, who was wearing a helmet when he crashed, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The San Mateo Police Department, which is investigating the incident, referred all questions to Holland.

The County Coroner's Office will not be able to make a preliminary determination of the cause of the bicyclist's death until today, Holland said.

Many bicyclists use the trails in Coyote Park, but the crash is the first reported fatal bike accident, Holland said.