What a magical evening to ride after work!

The Passage Ride - 4 corners of LA

Up Westridge, Down Sullivan Ridge

Westridge is open!  But Canyonback/Kenter is blocked at Mountaingate

Cogswell Damn - The gate was open

Edited - While biking and discovering the Santa Clara mountains, I ran into a wonderful group of cyclists on top of Santa Clara Truck Trail.  We talked and then headed down towards Little Tujunga Canyon.  They left about a minute before me.  As I was heading down this narrow and windy round, I saw one of them had been involved in a horrible accident with a car.  A female member of their group started CPR with 911 on the phone.  I was there until Medivac landed and the firefighters never stopped giving him CPR.  Later I found his injuries were fatal.

I'm all shook up.  Gazillion kudos to the girl who started giving her friend CPR and didn't stop until the paramedics arrived.  She was an absolute hero.  

The picture attached is the picture of this group as they were heading down, probably within a few minutes prior to the accident.  I'm posting this so you get an idea of the road and conditions.  It was a beautiful day with cyclists doing what we love. 

I did not see the accident and don't know what happened.  The vehicle was a convertible BMW.  The driver was in his late 20's or 30's.  He was shook up, but ok.  

The victim was nick named “Panda”.  He was very well known, loved, and respected member of the cycling community.  As is obvious from all the social media postings, he had touched many lives.  He was taken away from us way too soon.  

be careful out there.  Life can end extremely fast when we least expect it.  My prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends during this devastating time.  May he rest in peace.  

And my sincere apologies to his family and friends for posting a picture of the accident with the fire department on the scene (victim was not in the picture). It has been removed.  The reason was to bring reality to all cyclists of the dangers we face.  I’m truly sorry.


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Hamid Valai

What started as a great day ended in tragedy

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What a magical evening to ride after work!

The Passage Ride - 4 corners of LA

Up Westridge, Down Sullivan Ridge

Westridge is open! But Canyonback/Kenter is blocked at Mountaingate

Cogswell Damn - The gate was open

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