By LAURA AUSTIN News Review Staff Writer–
A Ridgecrest man was killed Thursday, August 22, in an apparent mountain biking accident. Last Thursday at 8:50 AM, 911 operators received a call of a man down in the hills south of Ridgecrest. Ridgecrest resident Jeff Cornelious, mountain biking in the same area, came across the downed rider.
Cornelious was cycling in the same area when he noticed the man lying on the hillside about 25 yards from his bike.
The rider had been riding alone in the hills south of Ridgecrest when, for unknown reasons, he crashed his bike and died on the trail.
“I know the guy,” Cornelious said. “He rides alone at night.” When asked if he knew how long the man had been lying there, Cornelious told The News-Review that officials had asked him about the condition of the man. “I told them I tried moving his foot with mine, and he realized he was already stiff. He said it looks like he’s been here a while because ants are crawling all over him. Cornelious, clearly shaken, continued down the trail toward Ridgecrest.
Kern County Fire and Sheriff, Ridgecrest, police, and Liberty Ambulance responded to the scene. The Kern County Sheriff released other responders and took control of the incident.
The identity of the cyclist and details of what officials called an apparent accident are still under investigation.
