Modesto police investigate death of bicyclist found in empty canal

A 45-year-old Modesto man died Wednesday when he apparently rode his bicycle into a dry canal along West Briggsmore Avenue.

A passerby saw the bicyclist in the empty canal near Aloha Way about 7:50 a.m. and called paramedics who pronounced him dead, said Modesto police spokeswoman Heather Graves.

Detectives responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses who indicated that the man had been swerving along the canal bank prior to going into the canal. His death appears to be an accident.

The man has been identified, but police are not releasing his name because his family has not been notified.

This story was originally published October 29, 2014 at 8:28 AM with the headline "Modesto police investigate death of bicyclist found in empty canal."