This is now how we wanted to start the holiday weekend.
According to the Ventura County Star, an older man was killed in an apparent solo fall while riding a road bike near Ojai Friday morning.
The victim, identified as 74-year old Ojai resident Michael A. Chambliss, was riding east on Rancho Drive west of Del Norte Road, just west of the Ojai city limits, shortly before 10:45 am when he somehow lost control of his Bianchi Infinito, and fell to the street.
He was taken to an Ojai hospital after paramedics attempted to revive him, where he died sometime later.
A street view shows numerous cracks and potholes in the pavement, any of which could have caused the fall.
It’s also possible that he suffered some sort of medical event, or that the crash could have been caused by a passing motorist.
Unless someone witnessed it, we may never know.
Anyone with information is urged to call the CHP’s Ventura-area office at 805/662-2640.
This is at least the 22nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first that I’m aware of in Ventura County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Michael A. Chambliss and all his loved ones.
