U.S. cyclist victim of Bolivia's 'Highway of Death'
A U.S. tourist has been killed after losing control of his mountain bike and plunging off a cliff while riding down Bolivia's famously treacherous "Highway of Death," officials said. Ken Mitchell, 56, died Saturday afternoon after falling some 230 feet (70 meters), said La Paz firefighter Ramiro Torres. Torres said Monday that firefighters based in Unduavi, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of La Paz, responded to the accident. Officials at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz confirmed the death Monday but declined to release the man's hometown. Mitchell was riding with one of several tourist agencies offering guided trips down the mountain road known for its breathtaking views, hairpin turns and precipitous drop-offs. Bus accidents on the narrow dirt track killed hundreds of Bolivians each year before a new paved highway opened in 2007. |
