Officer says struck cyclist was drinking

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

A man riding a mountain bike toward traffic in the northbound lane of Milpas Street yesterday was struck by a passing Ford Mustang and transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
A Santa Barbara Police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, said the bicyclist’s injuries did not appear to be serious and noted that the man had been drinking alcohol before the accident.

“You look at somebody who’s likely impaired by alcohol and they’re riding on the wrong side of the road, it’s a recipe for disaster,” the officer said.
The bicyclist was struck by the vehicle crossing the intersection of Milpas and De la Guerra Streets.
Marisol Andrada, an employee at the Chili Town restaurant located on that same corner, said she saw the bicyclist get hit by the vehicle, go over the handlebars and land head first on the pavement.
Firefighters were placing the man in a neck brace when the ambulance arrived. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet.
Andrada said she didn’t think the accident was the bicyclist’s fault because the Mustang appeared to be breaking the speed limit when it passed the restaurant.
Cesar Ortega, a manager at Chili Town, said he ran into the street to help the man.
“He got up and fell back down maybe four or five times,” Ortega said.
The officer said the driver was not cited for a traffic violation.