NEWS > LOCAL

The recent death of a longtime cyclist who collided with a car at the intersection of Uvas and Little Uvas roads the morning of Oct. 5 has fellow riders wondering if the California Highway Patrol is fully investigating the accident.

Killed was Bruce Finch, 58, a longtime cyclist and Gilroy resident.

According to the CHP report, he was riding south on Uvas Road when the accident occurred at 9:45 a.m.

Morgan Hill resident Rita Campos, 60, said she was traveling east on Little Uvas Road in her 1997 Honda when she stopped at the intersection.

Finch's bike collided with the front left side of her car, according to the CHP report. He was ejected.

Cyclist Todd Hamor of San Jose said he rides Uvas Road frequently. He pointed out that Uvas Road travelers have the right of way at this intersection.

San Jose resident Sharon Sam rides Uvas Road on her bicycle twice a week. She said she rode with Finch frequently and had ridden down Uvas Road with him.

"It's a good road, in my opinion, for riding a bicyle," Sam said. Bicyclists can get speeds up to 25 miles per hour, but cars travel faster at 45 to 50 mph, she said.

"He was very strong and a safe cyclist," she said of Finch. "Bruce was a cautious descender. I've ridden with some people who are all about the speed, but Bruce wasn't like that. He liked exercise, that's why he cycled, not for the thrill."

Finch kept fit because he had a young daughter he wanted to be healthy for, Sam said.

Campos was on her way to church that Sunday morning, she said.

"I live on top of the hill, I got down the hill, down to the stop sign, and stopped. I always look for bikers because there's always (some bicyclists), deer, cars and everything else," Campos said. She said she was looking to her right, and about to turn and look left again when Finch's bike struck her car.

"I heard this bang, and I just kind of ... didn't see anything. Next thing I realized, I saw the bike."

Finch's body was three or four yards away from her car, Campos said. A man and his son were driving by and stopped to help, she said. She put the emergency brake on and watched as the man gave CPR and talked to Finch.

Campos got a pillow and towels out of her car to stabilize Finch and try to prevent him from going into shock, she said. She wasn't sure if he was dead when the medics arrived a few minutes later.

While Campos said she "sometimes has to crawl a little bit further out" to see down Uvas Road, she doesn't think she did that day - but it all happened so fast she can't be completely sure.

Who's responsible for the accident has been a heated discussion topic since it happened. Cycling message boards online have been rife with accusations that Campos was negligent and that highway patrol officers aren't fully investigating the incident - not like they would if it were a car-on-car collision. Campos was not arrested or ticketed, and the investigation is ongoing, according to CHP spokesman Chris Armstrong.

"It usually takes about 30 days to complete a fatal report," he said.

Armstrong said there's "definitely no bias" against cyclists.

"In almost every accident, there is someone who committed a moving violation," he said. First, investigators look for a primary cause, and then for any associated factors. If Finch was in the right-of-way to be in the lane, then he was afforded all the rights of a motorist, Armstrong said.

Those rights include not stopping at Little Uvas Road.

Bicycle Trail Advisory Committee member Lisa Aragon said that she, as a recreational bicyclist, wouldn't ride on Uvas Road.

"Uvas Road is popular with the more experienced riders," Aragon said. "The road has hills and curves. There aren't bike lanes."

Instead, Uvas Road is primarily designated as a scenic road frequented by cyclists , who ride on a narrow area outside the car lane or on a limited or no-shoulder area, Aragon said, similar to Monterey Road and portions of Watsonville Road.

By California law, bicyclists have all the rights and responsibilities of automobiles and can travel anywhere a car can except for freeways, Armstrong said.

Finch's funeral was Saturday. He was scheduled to participate in another 100-mile ride that day, Sam said.

While she waits for CHP investigation results, Campos said she is praying for Finch and his family.

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Natalie Everett

Natalie Everett Natalie Everett is the education and city reporter for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.

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