This is where hit-and-run crosses the line to cold-blooded murder.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, a bike rider was found lying dead on an Oceanside roadway surrounded by evidence of an apparent hit-and-run.
The 28-year old victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified pending notification of next of kin, was found around 5:50 am by a man on his way to work at the San Luis Rey Water Treatment Plant. He was discovered near a smashed bike, as well as other evidence of a collision including tire marks and parts from a damaged car.
San Diego’s 10News places the location on the 3900 block of North River Road; a satellite view shows a dead end cul-de-sac, with access to another roadway through a drive leading to the treatment plant. They report that it’s unclear when the collision occurred or what time the victim died.
Police are looking for a lime or “alien” green Kia Soul, 2012 or 2013, with a missing headlight and front end damage on the passenger side.
Anyone with information is urged call Oceanside police at 760/435-4801.
In a case like this the driver should face a homicde charge, based on the assumption that the victim might have been saved if the driver had cared enough to stay at the scene and called for help. Instead, he or she made a conscious decision to flee the scene and leave an innocent person to die alone on a dark street.
This is the 68th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the eighth in San Diego County.
Update: KUSI reports the driver was headed west on North River Road; considering it’s a cup-de-sac that could significantly limit the number of drivers who would have a reason to be there, especially in the middle of the night.
Update 2: According to NBC San Diego, police believe they have identified a suspect in the case. They also report the victim, who still has not been publicly identified, was pronounced dead after paramedics attempted CPR, suggesting it’s possible he might have been saved if he’d gotten help sooner.
Update 3: The victim has been identified by his sister as 28-year old Philip White. A fund has been established to pay for funeral and other expenses related to the unexpected death, which has devastated his family; any excess funds will be donated to various charities, including MADD and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition.
It sounds like the world has lost a very kind and gentle soul.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the Philip White and all his loved ones.
I would only add that anyone who helps this killer have years in prison risked. extend sympathy to driver only if you want to either visit or join them in some bighouse please.
We need a federal if not local gover ment that protects our right to survive or die despite medical attention. Denying us emergency service’s and impartial pronouncement is the highest crime. Mandatory life in prison is justified.
I can’t “like” this because it is too sad. It wears my heart out.
Our prayers go up for the family and friends of the victim.
Truly heartbreaking to read about this. How can a driver just leave someone to die on the road? Hit someone on the road and help = accident. Hit someone on the road and leave them to die = felony!
I am always discouraged about my fellow man when I read something like this. Also, I feel strong feelings of sympathy for the loved ones of the victims.
This time, it is very close to home. Literally. I have many friends who ride bicycles and are in that age group.
Chuck Hoefer
God bless the victim’s family and friends. I’d be devastated if a loved one passed like that; as a cyclist myself who is recovering from being hit by a car, it’s stories like this that are going to make me drive to a trail. No more cars for me…unless I’m in a huge peloton!
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I drive by the site where the victim was found. A ghost bike stands lonesome with a dried up bunch of flowers I placed there 2 days after the incident. This is so close to my home and it really bothers me that both the victim and the suspect are nameless almost a week later…why this silence?
Often when there’s a delay in naming the victim, it’s because the police are having trouble locating the next of kin to inform them. That often means the victim may have been an immigrant, or may not have had ID.
As for the suspect, the driver often isn’t named until charges are filed; if the suspect is under 18, their usually not publicly named even then.
Then again, sometimes it’s just a failure of the press to follow-up; I haven’t seen any stories about this case since the first day.
I just found out the victim was named Philip White. Why there was no public announcement, I can’t say.
Thank you for your kind reply.
There are several things that bothers me in this incident:
1. that the victim’s age was identified immediately but not his name. If the authorities knew the victim’s age, I assumed that they had learned the victim’s identity.
2. that the suspect was found but not arrested immediately or ever.
3. that the only flowers I see at the accident site is the ones I placed. Does this mean he had no friends and no family alive?
4. that there is no media follow-up. Is it because nobody makes fuss about the victim’s death?
It bothers me that 28 years of a young man’s life is being dismissed so swiftly and lightly.
Thank you for finding his name for me. Now, at least I know that he had a name.
Phillip White – may your soul rest in peace.
Thank you very much for the follow-up.
Glad to know he was not alone.
My deepest condolence to his family and friends.
Philip was one of my favorite humans on the planet. It is such a sad loss for his friends and family. There was a delay in naming him because his parents were out of the country when his was a killed and there was a delay while they contacted them and the rest of the family. I know the family is very moved by the outpouring of love and concern they’ve received from the community.
I think the driver left the scene to go home and sober up so he can’t be charged with DUI. It’s still vehicular homicide. Why hasn’t he been charged is a mystery. I’ll be watching!
Someone decorated the ghost bike with orange flowers.
No longer looking lonesome 🙂
As a close family friend of the victim’s family I would like to thank you all for your compassion and concern for Philip. He was an amazing man. Hopefully the person who hit him will do the right thing and take responsibility for his behavior. It’s sad to me to see so many hit and runs these days in San Diego County. Everyone, be so careful out there if you are riding on the streets.
[…] Cyclist found dead following apparent hit-and-run in Oceanside. His family is raising funds to aid with funeral costs. […]