A Gran Fondo rider was hospitalized overnight after colliding with a squirrel during the Levi's Gran Fondo ride in Santa Rosa, California.
Christopher Davis, 47, suffered a minor facial fracture and concussion and was held overnight at the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for observation after what he described on Twitter as a "kamikaze squirrel" ran in front of his bike.
Davis told the LA Times that he was doing between 20mph and 25mph when the squirrel attempted to run across the road and got caught up in the spokes of his front wheel. The squirrel, who was killed in the accident, was photographed by paramedics who said they had not seen more unusual an accident. Mr Davis was thrown over his handlebars and landed on his head, with his helmet taking the full force of the collision.
The Grand Fondo is run by former pro rider Levi Leipheimer and raises money for local charities in Sonoma County, CA. More than 7,000 riders participated this year in the event which took place on October 4. The main route is 103 miles long and goes from Santa Rosa to the coast in a loop. Eleven riders in the event were taken to hospital, including one who was helicoptered away from the Gran Fondo with serious injuries.
It was the third time Mr Davis, who told paramedics he was from Oakland, CA, had ridden the Levi's Gran Fondo. The accident happened at about 10am between Camp Meeker and Monte Rio, in case riders in future Gran Fondos want to watch out for the squirrel's relatives sabotaging next year's event by scattering tacks on the road.
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