Deputy's Widow Sues Over Husband's Bicycle Race Death

WOODLAND HILLS, CA — The widow of a reserve deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who died in 2017 during a mountain bike race at the World Police and Fire Games is suing two helmet companies and other parties.

Rody Castroll's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges negligence and product liability on the part of Bell Sports Inc. and Vista Outdoor Operations LLC. The suit alleges the negligent design of the helmet worn by her husband, Jacob Yasha Castroll, made it a "useless safety device" and "an ultimate death trap to cyclists."

The suit, which was filed Friday by the Thousand Oaks woman, seeks unspecified damages. Representatives for the companies could not be immediately reached.

Castroll's 67-year-old husband was a reserve deputy at the Malibu/Lost Hills station from July 2010 until his death on August 11, 2017. He was found unresponsive on the Castaic bike course and was taken to a Valencia hospital, where he later died, authorities said at the time.

Other defendants named are the California Police Athletic Federation, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Athletic Association Inc. the World Police & Fire Games Federation. All three promoted the games, according to the suit.

City News Service