Retired OSP trooper dies of bicycle crash injuries

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said a 67-year-old Bend bicyclist and retired Oregon State Police trooper died Monday of injuries suffered Sunday when one of his spare shoes fell between the bike’s front wheel and front fork, causing it to suddenly stop and him to fall over the handlebars.

Deschutes County sheriff’s Sgt. Deke DeMars said Robert Vern Huskey died at St. Charles-Bend Monday of injuries sustained in the crash, which occurred shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday on O.B. Riley Road near the entrance to Tumalo State Park. A former colleague confirmed that Huskey was a retired OSP patrol trooper.

Some hearing the report were concerned it could be a Cascade Cycling Classic racer, but DeMars said the rider was not a competitor and it was an isolated incident.

DeMars said Huskey had been riding a silver Trek road bike south on O.B. Riley, toward Bend, with a second pair of shoes attached to the bike. One of the shoes came loose, falling between the front wheel and fork, causing the bike to stop quickly and the man to fall forward over the handlebars.

Huskey also was following the rules of the road at the time, DeMars said, and alcohol is not believed to be a factor.