By Khalida Sarwari
A 25-year-old bicyclist who was found dead Wednesday morning near the University of California at Santa Cruz campus has been identified by the Santa Cruz County coroner’s office as Zachary Parke.
Parke was found by a passing cyclist around 8 a.m. on Empire Grade Road south of Heller Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol.
It appears he was hit by a car as he was riding his bike and that the driver fled afterward, the CHP said.
Parke was a resident of Santa Cruz.
The car that struck him was either a maroon or metallic burgundy-colored Nissan or Infiniti that has sustained some damage, according to the CHP.
The CHP is investigating the hit-and-run collision and is asking any witnesses or anyone with information to call (831) 662-0511.