Bicyclist trying to beat the South Miami Avenue Bridge plunges to his death, police say
Fred Medina was on one of his early-morning bike rides Wednesday when he tried to beat the drawbridge linking downtown Miami and Brickell as its warning arms levered downward and the whistle blew, police say.
But the 58-year-old, who rode almost every morning from Aventura to Key Biscayne and beyond, logging 60, 70, 80 miles and more, didn’t make it.
Medina was holding on when the bridge began its ascent. He slipped and fell onto a concrete slab, plummeting to his death, said Kenia Fallat, a Miami police spokeswoman.
“He tried to overtake the opening,” Fallat said. “This appears to be accidental.”
Those who knew Medina, a media, entertainment and technology executive, mostly working in Latin American media, were shocked by his passing.
”Fred had an impressive track record in the world of television and media where he made his unmatched mark,” said Enrique R. Martinez, chairman of LAMAC (Latin American Council for Media Advertising) in a statement. “We express our condolences to his family and friends.”
Gustavo Pupo-Mayo, chairman of the board of directors for the Television Association of Programmers Latin America, said the board was “deeply saddened by the sudden death of our esteemed colleague and friend.”
“Fred helped champion the Pay TV industry in Latin America in the numerous executive positions he held throughout the years,” Pupo-Mayo said. “I got to know Fred because our offices were just down the hall from each other. He was a decent, thoughtful and intelligent man who loved his children deeply. An automobile enthusiast, Fred had many interests and was passionate about fitness.
“Most of all, Fred was a kind and gentle person who will be missed by his friends and colleagues.”
In recent years, Medina developed a passion for cycling, often waking up at 4:45 a.m. to ride from Aventura to Key Biscayne. He kept his friends up-to-date by posting and sharing his rides on the Strava fitness tracker application.
According to his Strava page, Medina rode 22,008.1 miles last year and was in the saddle for 1,187 hours and 20 minutes.
T.C. Schultz, executive vice president of networks operations, programming and strategy at Sony Pictures Entertainment, said he looked forward to Medina’s posts.
The last time Medina posted on Strava was Tuesday. He rode 102 miles in about five hours — or about 20 mph.
“We’d give each other kudos,” said Schultz, who also rides. “He’s really great at sharing his ride with beautiful scenes of Miami. It’s so tragic ... he started the day doing what he loved.”
Medina, according to his Facebook page, went to Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, studied at the University of Texas at San Antonio and the International Institute for Management Development and lived in Aventura. On Linkedin, Medina said he was a principal of Redline Advisors, a media marketing consulting firm. Previously, he was managing director for Latin America for BBC.
The incident happened just after 6 a.m. at the South Miami Avenue Bridge, which spans the Miami River. The main artery was shut down for about three hours Wednesday morning for the investigation. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists were forced to find other routes than the bridge at 400 S. Miami Ave.
Miami Commissioner Ken Russell said the accident is a reminder how important it is for cities, counties and states to address bicycle safety.
The Downtown Development Authority has been working with the Florida Department of Transportation to install gates that would block people from going under the arms, Russell said.
“To me, this is about cycling safety and making sure the city, county and state have the right infrastructure to make cycling safe for everyone in the city,” he said.
This story was originally published March 17, 2021 at 7:08 AM.
