Advocacy & Safety - Cyclist Dies at Portland Internal Raceway

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iana
07-14-05, 10:06 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-CYC-Racer-Killed.html

Cyclist Dies at Portland Internal Raceway

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 13, 2005
Filed at 4:24 a.m. ET

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A cyclist died when he crashed headfirst near the finish line during a road race at Portland International Raceway on Tuesday night.

The 29-year-old cyclist from Milwaukie, whose name was withheld pending family notification, was 300 yards from finishing the 40-mile race when he lost control of his bike, said Lt. Allen Oswalt, a spokesman for Portland Fire and Rescue.

The cyclist slammed headfirst into a steel post filled with concrete.

''He was wearing a helmet, but it didn't do much at 30 mph,'' Oswalt said.

Oswalt said the cyclist suffered ''huge head trauma'' and died at the scene.

Race organizer Jeff Mitchem said the cyclist, who had several years of racing experience, was in a pack sprinting toward the finish line when he tried to pass on a straightaway and veered off course.

''As soon as he hit it, the sound was such that we knew it was serious,'' said Mitchem, who also participated in the race sanctioned by the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association.

Portland International Raceway is designed for auto racing, and the cyclist hit a support for a fence that keeps cars from the crowd, Mitchem said.

Mitchem said medical personnel treated the cyclist within seconds, but there was no chance to save him.


KingTermite
07-14-05, 10:13 AM
Yeah...it was posted in the Road Cycling forum yesterday.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=121338

See my post in the thread....I think I have a weird connection to it....my online buddy from another forum (who lives in Oregon) just posted about his brother-in-law dying in a clycling race.....gotta be the same guy.