Crime & Safety

UC Berkeley Assistant Manager Dies in Bike Crash on BART Path

A UC Berkeley assistant manager died in a bicycle crash on the Ohlone Greenway Friday when he swerved to avoid a skateboarder, according witness and official accounts.

An assistant health and safety manager at UC Berkeley died late Friday in a bicycle crash when he swerved to avoid a skateboarder on the Ohlone Greenway, according to authorities and witnesses.

Steve Maranzana, 39, of El Cerrito, died from apparent cardiac arrest in the accident that occurred about 5:15 p.m. as he was going northbound on the Greenway (the BART path) between Hopkins and Gilman streets, according to information gathered from Berkeley police, the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau and witnesses.

"Talk about fluke, freak accidents," said Berkeley Police Lt. Dave Frankel.

Police received a call of a bicyclist who was in cardiac arrest after crashing when he tried avoid colliding with another Greenway user, Frankel said. The cyclist "over-corrected and crashed into a fence," he said.

That section of the Greenway runs next to the BART tracks as they come above ground north of the North Berkeley BART station.

Berkeley Fire Department paramedics administered CPR at the scene, but he did not recover and was pronounced dead at a local hospital, Frankel said. He was pronounced dead at 6:27 p.m., according to the Coroner's Bureau, which listed his name as Stefano Maranzana.

Witness Susan Moffat, who was bicycling on the Greenway, said she arrived at the scene about 5:15 p.m. just after it occurred. A skateboarder and another cyclist said the victim was passing another cyclist, saw the skateboarder and swerved to avoid hitting the skateboarder, according to Moffat.

She said he was wearing a helmet and that his bicycle ended up against the fence, which separates the path from the BART tracks.

"This is going to be a tremendous blow to our department and to the campus," said Cindy Durant, communications manager for the UC Berkeley Office of Environment, Health and Safety, where Maranzana worked as assistant manager for health and safety. "I don't think there's anybody who knows him who doesn't love him."

His responsibilities included health and safety training as well as serving as project manager for the campus "Breathe Campaign," under which smoking on campus will be prohibited as of Jan. 1. Banners for the campaign were put up on campus Friday.

Durant said Maranzana "has a child on the way," and described him as having "a lot of energy, always very upbeat, one of those 'We can do it' kind of people."

She also said he apparently suffered from a heart condition.

He rode his bike on the 2009 AIDS LifeCycle ride from San Franciso to Los Angeles, and in comment accompanied by his photo on the Polar USA website, he said he was diagnosed with heart problems shortly after the ride.

"Imagine my surprise when I was diagnosed with heart problems at the age of 36 shortly after completing the 2009 AIDS LifeCycle (SF to LA)," he said. "My doctor discovered the condition by accident, but the consequences are real. During my recovery, I need to stay below my 80% of max heart rate when I exercise."

His Facebook page says he studied environmental science at Cal, attended Mamaroneck High School and the American School of Paris, and is from Rivoli Torinese, Piemonte, Italy.

Moffat said the spot where the accident occurred was quite dark, falling between lighted areas reached by streetlights.

She said the darkness on the heavily used path poses a danger that she hopes officials will investigate.

"I think lighting should be better on the Ohlone Greenway," she said.

Published Dec. 21, 7:50 p.m.; updated Dec. 22, 12:11 p.m.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.