SANTA MARIA, Calif.- The cycling community is mourning the loss of one of their own as 39-year-old, Doctor Damian Horstman was killed after being struck by a big-rig.
As many as 19,000 cyclists are killed or injured in road accidents every year, according to The Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents.
"It definitely is caused for a concern because the frequency and occurrence is bothersome and I think it draws to light the importance of wider safety and etiquette to our community, choosing good roads and riding in a proper area and far over the right as possible," says Scott Clark, a cyclist.
So how dangerous are our Central Coast roadways for cyclists?
"In town I'll stay off of the major boulevards, especially ones that don't have a bike lane or heavy traffic streets that have a lot of industrial travel," says Clark.
Back in April of this year, 58-year-old Jim Hamilin was killed when he was riding his bike on Highway One toward Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Lompoc Valley. An 84-year-old man hit Hamlin as he tried to navigate a curve.
Then, there was 19-year-old Eric Okerblom, he was hit and killed by a distracted driver in 2009, while he was riding his bike east of Santa Maria.
For cyclist, Ben Brown, these stories hit close home, as his best friend, was also killed while biking.
"It was an usual accident, he was coming down with a group of racers and one of the bikes ran over some gravel in the road, he slid out in the road and was hit by an oncoming vehicle," says Ben Brown, a cyclist.
Although, Brown's friend passed, he doesn't stop riding.
"It's no reason to get off the saddle and continue riding," says Brown.
