Update: Riverside road cyclist left dying in the street by hit-and-run driver

Yet another Southern California bike rider has been killed by a cowardly hit-and-run driver.

According to the Riverside Press-Enterprise, Riverside police found the 53-year old victim lying in the westbound bike lane on Victoria Avenue, just west of Myers Street, around 7:45 Saturday morning, after receiving a report of a bicyclist down.

He was transported to a local hospital, where he died.

Police initially thought the man, who has not been publicly identified, had fallen off his bicycle. However, hospital officials reported his injuries were consistent with being hit by a motor vehicle.

Unfortunately, no witnesses have come forward, so there is no description of the suspect or the vehicle used in the crime.

Video from the scene shows a black road bike and silver helmet lying on the side of the road.

Screen grab from KTLA report

No other information is available at this time.

Regardless of how the crash may have happened, there is simply no excuse, ever, for leaving a crash victim bleeding in the street. The driver should face a murder charge for making a conscious decision to let the victim die, rather than calling for help and providing assistance as the law requires.

We’ll never know if he might have survived if he’d gotten help right away.

Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Zach Fishell at 951-826-8723, or email zfishell@riversideca.gov.

Let’s hope they find the coward responsible for this crash. And that prosecutors treat this needless death with the seriousness it demands.

This is at least the 14th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first I’m aware of in Riverside County.

Update: The Press-Enterprise has identified the victim as 52-year old Riverside resident Brian Sabel.

Despite wearing a helmet, he died of a head injury at Riverside Community Hospital roughly 45 minutes after he was found in the roadway.

No word on how long he had been lying there before help arrived.

This would appear to be his Strava profile.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Brian Sabel and his loved ones.

Thanks to John McBrearty for the heads-up.

3 comments

  1. JJD says:

    We lift up the family and friends of the victim in our prayers.

  2. Richard Fox says:

    I am very sad to hear about the poor man. Victoria Ave is a popular scenic cycling road with bike lanes, ~7 miles through historic Riverside citrus country. There is also a bike path parallel to it that I described in enCYCLEpedia, Ride R2. The riding is not as good as on the road, but it is much safer. It is probably especially scenic at the moment with views of snowy mountains and spring blooms.

  3. Josh says:

    I’m beyond sad for the passing of Brian, his family, and all other loved ones.. My deepest condolences.. This is truely tragic.. I’ve known and worked with him for years.. He was such an awesome dude always happy and full of life and DID NOT DESERVE THIS.!! I hope and pray that they find this P.O.S that left him behind, then hopefully his family might have at least a shred of peace..! RIP Brian man You will definitely be missed many!!!

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