South Pasadena Cyclist Critically Injured in Freak Accident

SOUTH PASADENA, CA -- A 74-year-old bicyclist was seriously injured today in South Pasadena when his head struck a parked truck, police said.

The man, a resident of Bell Gardens, was in critical condition when taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital following the 5:45 a.m. accident in the 400 block of Fair Oaks Avenue, according to the South Pasadena Police Department.

The cyclist, whose name was not released, was riding north on Fair Oaks Avenue with his head down, looking at the roadway, and didn't see the legally parked commercial truck, according to police. The man's head struck a rear corner of the vehicle.

"The bicyclist was wearing a protective helmet; however, the impact was significant enough to puncture and crack the helmet," according to a police statement.

City News Service