The bad news just keeps coming.
For the fourth time in less than 48 hours, a Southern California bike rider has lost his life on the bumper of a motor vehicle.
According to Murrieta Patch, a 13-year old boy was riding his bike south across Los Brisas Road on Bolina Drive yesterday when he was hit by a car traveling west on Los Brisas at 4:05 pm. The victim, who has not yet been publicly identified, was taken to Rancho Springs Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The woman driving the car said the rider appeared suddenly, and she was unable to stop in time to avoid him. According to police, the vehicle appear to be driving at the 35 mph speed limit; there was no stop sign for the car at the intersection, nor was there any crosswalk.
There appears to be bike lane on Los Brisas, though not on Bolina. But the question is why there wouldn’t be a stop sign or a crosswalk just one block from an elementary school.
The Press-Enterprise reports the victim was riding a fixed-gear bike with no brakes; depending on the skill of the rider, it’s possible that he may not have been able to stop in time to avoid darting out in front of the car. It’s also possible that the driver may have been distracted in some way, and didn’t see something she should have been able to stop for.
According to Patch, no one observed the actual collision.
“We had a number of witnesses,” the sergeant told Patch. “They reported to us hearing a noise, looking that direction, and seeing the boy go down on the roadway, but nobody actually saw the accident occur.”
This is the 17th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and frighteningly, the fifth in Riverside County in the last two months. He was also the second vulnerable road user killed in Murrieta yesterday alone.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his family.
Thanks to Zak for the heads-up.
Update: Commenters on the Patch story have given the first name of the victim as Brennan, and report seeing a helmet in some of the news stories.
Update 2: The Press-Enterprise has identified the victim as 13-year old Brennen Faith of Murrieta. And yes, he was riding brakeless, and with a helmet.
It may not have been a “fixie” the kid was riding. It is a common modification to remove the brakes from BMX bikes used to ride “vert” because accidentally touching the brakes will cause a fall. The problem is when kids emulate this and try to ride the bike on the street. I don’t know how to stop this except for warning kids that riding bikes like this on the street is not safe every time the show vert riding on TV or the internet.
Thanks for that. I had no idea.
How very sad.
Unfortunately I have to correct Sgt. Froboese, who should know better than to claim that there was no crosswalk at that intersection. A crosswalk exists at every intersection unless there are signs posted to the contrary. (CVC 275)
I wonder why the police think the driver was traveling 35mph, since there were no witnesses to the crash other than possibly the two people in the car.
yes your phrasing and blaming of bumper hits the mark… it is the car and those who employ it ok in n its ordinary inappropriate use like on driving down such a road who kill. both the parts and the people kill. the driver is as far from innocent as this child was a child. if you want to kill someone who is a child and of someone else if not your own then just do whatever everyone else is doing and you to have a chance pto be excused for taking life just because its profitable and supposedly pleasant. keep driving the blood can be washed off. don’t dare ask if joining in the killing is right…. its legal enough so relax about the ethics and actual consequence to planet and people etc. drive. drive on over some more unlucky people. its the American way.
brennan was a very good friend of mine . I went to school with his for all of 8th grade , he has such a kind heart and everyone loved him ,. hes missed dearly.