Soquel man dies in single bicycle crash

SOQUEL >> A Soquel man died Saturday afternoon in an electric bicycle accident.

The 57-year-old man, who has yet to be identified by authorities, was riding his bike north up Sumner Avenue when he struck the center median. He was then ejected off of his bike and into the road, according to a California Highway Patrol report.

“You can actually see where he hit the median and traveled a considerable distance before he came to a rest, both him and the bike,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Sam Courtney.

A closer look at the bike, a Sur Ron electric bicycle, helped officers determine it was not built for highway use, according to Courtney. It was built as an off-highway bike meant for dirt tracks or smaller roads. Sumner Avenue is considered a highway due to a loose definition of the word. When the bike is classified as off-highway, it means it’s not built to be used on public roads.

The man was wearing safety equipment, according to the report, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. He died from the injuries he sustained from the crash, but officials have not yet released the nature of the injuries.

California Highway Patrol is also waiting for toxicology report. Alcohol has not been ruled out as a contributor to the accident, but also has not been determined to be a cause.

“There are signs and symptoms of alcohol consumption at the scene, but we don’t know what level that is,” Courtney said. “We’re going to have to wait for a toxicology report.”

“There are signs and symptoms of alcohol consumption at the scene, but we don’t know what level that is. We’re going to have to wait for a toxicology report.” — Highway Patrol Officer Sam Courtney