Update: Bike rider killed in Lawndale collision; details unknown

Once again, few details are available as the recent rash of bad news continues.

This morning, I was alerted to yet another bicycling fatality by a sharp eyed attorney, who spotted the news hidden in a string of traffic alerts from the CHP (scroll down to 7:14 am).

Based on that alert, Johnson Attorneys Group reports a rider in his 40s was killed in a Lawndale collision that occurred on Manhattan Beach Blvd near Cranbrook Ave in Lawndale at 7:14 this morning.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:30 am. No other details are available at this time.

Cranbrook does not actually intersect with Manhattan Beach Blvd; a satellite view shows a four lane, limited access street with a single crosswalk, suggesting the victim was most likely either hit from behind or crossing the street at the time of the collision.

However, the CHP reports indicate all lanes were blocked following the collision, which would most likely place the victim in the middle of the street when he was struck; El Camino College is located on the south side of Manhattan Beach Blvd, along with a golf course.

This is the 67th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 25th in Los Angeles County; that compares to 65 and 27, respectively, this time las year.

Update: According to the Daily Breeze, the victim, who has still not been publicly identified, was a man in his 60s. And as suggested above, he was riding his bike in the crosswalk when he was hit by a Hyundai sedan driving east on Manhattan Beach. 

A CHP spokesman reports the driver did not see the victim, despite flashing warning lights on the crosswalk; a comment below suggests he may have been blinded by the sun. 

Of course, the proper response when blinded is to pull over until you can see, rather than attempting to drive by braille, yet it is seldom prosecuted.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.

5 comments

  1. KB says:

    A state of emergency should be declared either pitting the law into effect immediately or requiring all right lanes to not be shared but rather flow at the most human speeds user till the ‘please pass without even recklessly risking killing anyone law’ goes live as drivers seem to be trying to nudge us off in these final days while they still can with impunity. I would advise only the most sympathetic cyclists to martyr themselves by riding this week. The rest should find cause to use vacation or even otherwise health preservation time to not have to commute. We are not the shoes of horses even though it’s not necessary to actually touch us to score with our gore. On a jury I would acquit almost any provably sane sniper who took out driver’s shading the bike lane stripe this week and personally even beyond. A new car has exploding doors if it is flipped. We have the right to fill our frames with plastic so if we are crushed nobody survives alternatively. In so saying I bless the first and hopefully won’t have to morn more of being killed for being even more silent instead.

  2. Thank you Ted for sharing this with your readers. It’s with great sadness that we report this type of news, however, it must be reported because the public needs to be made aware of how often riders are injured or killed here in California.

    Your blog is an important resource for cyclists such as myself who want to stay abreast of what is happening as well as promote a change on our busy and dangerous roadways.

  3. JOn says:

    Had the disconcerting experience of cycling around this this morning. Would have been even more disconcerting if I’d realized it was a fellow cyclist. On Manhattan Beach Blvd, just East of the crosswalk where Cranbrook would intersect. Very sad

  4. Melissa says:

    This was very sad to hear about this morning. At first i thought the victim was a student. I read from the ECC Union that the driver was blinded by the sunlight. I suspect the cyclist wasn’t walking his bike across the street. This stretch of road, in my opinion, is not safe. I tell my daughter to walk her bike across sidewalks for her safety. And wear a helmet. Basics. My daughter rode her bike by this accident this morning. Now, i know she’ll listen. I love LADOT. I wish more people would read the sections regarding bicycle safety and apply that wisdom while commuting.

    • Melissa says:

      My autocorrect changes crosswalks to sidewalks. Oops. I realize i have made the assumption that the cyclist was crossing the street. I can’t imagine someone being in the left lane of a busy street to turn left onto a sidewalk.

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