The accident claimed the life of another cyclist.

"This has changed my life," said Mike Aberg, whose father was injured during the hit and run. "I want to make people on the road more aware that there are others on the road beside drivers."

Ted Aberg, 65, was biking with cycling partner James Dein last Thursday when both were struck by a vehicle. Dien, 53, died later that day at Valley Medical Center.

Witnesses said they saw a red Ford van veer off to the side of Highway 9 at Ridgcrest Avenue in Monte Sereno and hit the cyclists, who were riding eastbound.

The suspect drove away from the scene but a witness followed the red van to Wilder and Bachman avenues in downtown Los Gatos, where the driver abandoned the van and fled on foot. Another witness, described as a female, obtained the license number of the van, leaving the information for police on a note at the scene of the hit and run. She left before police arrived.

Police launched a massive manhunt late Thursday afternoon, bringing in a helicopter from the San Jose Police Department and a bloodhound from the Santa Clara Sheriff's Department to search the area, but the suspect eluded capture.

David Anthony Espino, 38, of San Jose later turned himself into police custody Feb. 20. He was taken to Santa Clara County Main Jail late Friday night and booked on charges of vehicle manslaughter, two counts of felony hit and run, a misdemeanor hit and run and probation violation.

Espino is believed to be the owner of the red van involved in the incident.

Just before the accident occurred, the Santa Clara Sheriff's office received separate reports of a vehicle matching the description of the red Ford swerving erratically on Highway 9. The vehicle was allegedly on the wrong side of traffic, going eastbound in the westbound lanes.

Aberg remains in critical condition at the hospital, although his family said he appears to be improving.

Both Aberg and Dein were longtime cyclists who often biked from Palo Alto to Los Gatos. Mike Aberg credits Dein for introducing him to cycling when he was 16 years old; he later taught Aberg's father how to ride.

Although his father may not be able to ride again, Mike Aberg said he would continue to cycle in the area.

"I feel that Los Gatos has always been a strong supporter of the cycling community," said Mike Aberg.

The incident has prompted some city officials and community members to call for safer streets for bike riders and pedestrians in Monte Sereno and Los Gatos. Highway 9 in particular has been a trouble spot for both cities before, the site of another fatality just last year.

"We've been treating it like a rural road and it's not," said Marc Jensen, who runs Los Gatos Peds, an organization dedicated to making roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists. "We basically have a freeway going through our community with no protection for bike and pedestrians."

Monte Sereno Mayor Erin Garner said the city has been trying to make improvements in the area for years but CalTrans, which oversees the highway, has felt such upgrades were unnecessary. CalTrans performed a safety study on the highway last year under pressure from the city, but decided that accidents on the highway were not related to road design.

In light of last week's events, Garner said he would ask CalTrans to take another look at the highway and make immediate safety improvements.

"I'm going to hold their feet to the fire," he said.

Despite the renewed concern over bike and pedestrian safety, many bicyclists say they already feel safe on Highway 9 and on other surface roads in Monte Sereno and Los Gatos.

"There's a significant shoulder, so one would feel that it's a safe stretch to ride," said Roger Fisher, a cyclist.

Fisher has been riding in the area for the past 30 years and has been involved in a number of accidents. He believes inattentive drivers and cyclists are most often the cause for such incidents.

"What you find in dangerous situations are people in too big of a hurry or distracted by other things," he said.

Other cyclists point to increased road congestion as another reason behind vehicle and bike accidents.

"Fifteen years ago, when I started long distance racing, there were no close calls," said Dave Weber, who works at Crossroads, a bike store on N. Santa Cruz Avenue. Weber said there are more drivers and bicycle riders on the road now, increasing the chance of an accident.

Cyclists take these risks in stride.

"I still think California overall is one of the safest places to ride," said Barry Gordon of the Los Gatos Racing Club.

A memorial service will be held later this week for Dein. Mike Aberg encouraged those attending to ride their bikes to the services and wear cycling attire.

Espino will be arraigned on Feb.25.