A WATSONVILLE MAN WAS AIR-LIFTED TO AN AREA TRAUMA CENTER YESTERDAY WITH LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES, AFTER BEING HIT BY A VAN WHILE RIDING HIS BICYCLE ON A SIDEWALK. THE 32-YEAR OLD VICTIM WAS RIDING HIS BIKE AROUND 2 P.M., WHEN A VAN DRIVEN BY A WOMAN TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON EAST LAKE AVENUE WAS STRUCK BY A UTILITY VAN, WHO RAN A STOP SIGN AT BLACKBURN STREET. POLICE SAY THE FORCE OF THE COLLISION CAUSED THE VAN DRIVEN BY THE WOMAN TO LEAVE THE ROAD AND STRIKE THE CYCLIST, CAUSING HIM TO BECOME TRAPPED UNDER THE VAN. FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO FREE THE MAN. MEANWHILE, THE UTILITY VAN CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE INTO AN OFFICE ON THE 300 BLOCK OF EAST LAKE AVENUE. THE DRIVER OF THE UTILITY VAN WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH MINOR INJURIES, WHILE THE WOMAN IN THE OTHER VAN WAS NOT INJURED.
