Irvine Bicyclist Dies, Becoming 2nd Bike Fatality Over Weekend

A 59-year-old man who was injured in a bicycle accident Friday night has died, becoming the second of three bicyclists to die in Irvine over the weekend.

Gene Zenger was pronounced dead at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Zenger had recently refitted his bicycle with new tires and was taking a test run Friday--the day his first grandchild was born--when the accident occurred. He was not wearing a helmet, police said.

“It’s just a real freaky thing,” his wife, Ann Zenger, said Monday. “He became a grandfather that day. It was a very happy day.”

Zenger was the second of three bicyclists to die in separate accidents. UC Irvine senior Reiber Davila, 29, died early Sunday morning after a car hit him from behind near the campus, police said.

A third bicyclist, Andrew Bermudez, 12, was reported in fair condition at Long Beach Memorial Hospital after he was struck Friday trying to cross Paseo Westpark. He suffered a fractured pelvis and is in intensive care.

Zenger was hospitalized after police found him unconscious in the bike lane next to his cycle at Briarwood and East Yale Loop on Friday evening. Police said he lost control of his bike and fell, suffering severe head injuries.

“He took a turn too fast, leaned in too hard,” his wife said Monday. “The pedal hit the asphalt; that’s what happened. Unfortunately, he didn’t have his helmet on. . . . I want people to know that terrible things can happen when you don’t wear a helmet.”

None of the bicycle victims were wearing helmets, Irvine Police Lt. Al Muir said.

“Traditionally, we’ve been relatively safe in this area,” Muir said. “These fatalities have put people back a bit, certainly occurring in 24 hours. We hope this has been the flood, if you will, and we will be back to safety soon.”

Davila, who was working on his second degree in dance after obtaining a bachelor’s in theater arts, was riding home early Sunday morning when he was struck from behind, police said. Investigators believe that he had just gotten off work from a restaurant in Costa Mesa. He died shortly before 1 a.m.

Police have arrested Manuel Gutierrez, 26, of Tustin on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony drunk driving.