Bike Fatality Newport Coast

[Garfield Cat]

The L.A. Times articles says that a rider, Victor Anthony Zovi, 73 years old from Costa Mesa, going downhill on Newport Coast Dr. about 10:30 am Friday, died. Does anyone know about the details? Was he riding alone? Was it a mechanical failure?

[Brandy]

Man who fell off bike on steep street dies
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
December 27, 2006

A 73-year-old man who fell off his bicycle has died of his injuries, police said Tuesday.

Victor Antony Zovi of Costa Mesa was in the bike lane riding down a steep stretch of Newport Coast Drive about 10:30 a.m. Friday when he lost control and fell, police said. Zovi, who was wearing a helmet at the time, died at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, officials said.


My condolences to his friends and family. :(

[Tiffanie]

:(

[Gretzky]

:( RIP Victor Anthony Zovi

[merider1]

Very sad, but at least he died doing something he loved and not sitting in a rocking chair with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and cigarette in the other. :(

[voltman]

Condolences. :(

[urbanknight]

Very sad, but at least he died doing something he loved and not sitting in a rocking chair with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and cigarette in the other. :(
Agreed. If he was still riding at age 73, he's an inspiration to me.

[VMC]

My condolences to his friends and family
I know what it's like to lose a loved one

[flipflops]

my condolences to his friends and family! it's tough to lose a loved one around the holidays.

[Gretzky]

Victor was a BCI member. Maybe Pam knew him

[BCIpam]

FROM BCI WEBPAGE: I sortof knew Victor - he was one of the older riders and generally did the weekday rides...

BCI member Victor Zovi was admitted unconscious to Mission Hospital with severe head trauma Friday 12/22, and passed away Saturday.
Indications were that he was riding when he was hurt but no details were out.

The OC Register ran this article on the 26th confirming the worst:
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1398243.php
Quote:
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Bicyclist dies from Newport Beach crash injuries
Costa Mesa man, 73, lost control of bike last week and hit head.
By KIMBERLY EDDS
The Orange County Register
NEWPORT BEACH – A 73-year-old Costa Mesa man who suffered major head injuries after losing control of his bicycle last week has died, police reported today.

Victor Antony Zovi died at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo on Saturday, a day after he crashed his 2002 Pinarello bicycle on Newport Coast Drive just north of Pacific Coast Highway.

Zovi was headed south on Newport Coast in the bike lane about 10:47 a.m. when he suddenly went out of control and crashed head first into the ground, Sgt. Tom Fischbacher said. He was wearing a helmet.

Police are investigating what caused Zovi to lose control of his bicycle.



Victor joined the BCI in September 1993; BCI# 2143. He was born January 11, 1933 so he was nearly 74.

The hospital staff sent out an appeal to the BCI Friday afternoon to help find family as Victor was unconscious but had a BCI membership card on him. As of later Friday night they said his familiy or emergency contact had been found.

Please keep emergency contact info with your license; carry your BCI card with emergency contact number(s) on it & be careful out there!

[Mr. Beanz]

:( Sorry to hear that!

[socalcyclist]

Agreed. If he was still riding at age 73, he's an inspiration to me.

I agree as well. My wife's grandmother dies at 73 this year. The last 5 years of her life she spent struggling with the reprecussions of smoking and obesity. Needless to say, she was miserable because of the self inflicted, poor quality of her life. So, I am inspired to see people like this gentleman. May he rest in peace.

[lsits]

:(

[sjmayclin]

I've ridden that very spot many times, and hold it one of my favorite rides, coming down with such a magnificent view of the ocean. I'll say a prayer for his family the next time I pass.

:(

[Extort]

R.I.P.

We will all miss you...

[genedoc]

Very sad. My prayers go out to his family.

[Garfield Cat]

I'm trying to figure out what happened. If he was an experienced rider, he could handling the descent as he must have done hundreds of times. What made this ride so different? Was he going so fast that a freak blowout made him lose control? Did he try to dodge a car that was trying to turn from a side street?
Was the wind blowing that day and some palm tree branch was in his way? Did he have a sudden dizzy spell?

[BCIpam]

Garfield - Victor was a frail little guy and also alittle squirrelly - I know from experience that just a simple little thing in the road can toss one from a bike. Also last year one of the strongest older riders had a terrible crash - just an a a lapse in judgement descending Jamboree and hit the curb, he was tossed over and onto his face and ribs. Thankfully he survived.

I'm sure there will be some discussion at BCI and if I learn anything I'll let everyone know.

[Cleave]

Hello,

Just horrible. We were discussing this accident a bit during our club ride this morning. No one knew him and we noted that we weren't that familiar with the descent because we almost always go up that piece of road, not down.

The only very small consolation is that he died doing something he enjoyed.