Bicyclist seriously injured in crash at Zion National Park

A cyclist was seriously injured when he crashed while illegally biking through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel.

The 51-year-old West Jordan man was riding with a group of eight bicyclists around 4:30 p.m. Friday when he and one of his companions crashed into the tunnel wall, according to the National Park Service.

A cyclist near the back of the group witnessed the crash. He said the tunnel was very dark and only two of his companions had lights on their bikes.

"As soon as we rounded the corner, it was like pitch black, and that's where it happened," one of the bicyclists told rangers. "He was just lying there… I thought, someone else is going to get killed."

The man suffered significant head trauma and was taken to the hospital. His condition was unclear Saturday morning.

The second man just sideswiped the tunnel and tore his shirt, but was otherwise uninjured, rangers said.

Bikes are prohibited in the unlit 1.1-mile tunnel — cyclists and pedestrians are required to ride through in a car for safety reasons, rangers said. The eight cyclists were part of a group of 12 who had arranged to be taken to the other side by shuttle, but decided to ride through instead.

Rangers issued citations to the eight cyclists, two of whom were minors.

"It was really stupid what we'd done," said one of the cyclists. "I think we all learned our lesson and we now have to pay the price."