A cyclist is dead, collateral damage in a roadway dispute between two motorists in Downtown L.A.
The cyclist, who has not been publicly identified, was riding near the onramp to the 110 Freeway at the intersection of Francisco and 8th Streets when he was struck around 7 or 8 pm. The rider has only been described as an older Hispanic male, whose age has been various reported as 59 or 62.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a 23-year old woman in a Kia and a 37-year old man in a Chevy Avalanche were involved in some sort of dispute while driving north on Figueroa, then the Avalanche tried to pass the Kia on the right after they had turned left onto 8th Street, striking the victim in the process.
The Times reports that the driver of the Avalanche has been taken into custody for questioning, while the other driver remained at the scene but has not been detained.
And an innocent man is dead because one or both drivers couldn’t manage hold their damn temper behind the wheel.
As I said before, we need a policy of One and Done; a single conviction on a road rage charge should result in a loss of driving privileges for life.
No exceptions.
Thanks to Dj Wheels for the heads-up.
[…] A cyclist is dead, collateral damage in a roadway dispute between two motorists in Downtown L.A. The cyclist, who has not been publicly identified, was riding near the onramp to the 110 Freeway at the intersection of Francisco and 8th Streets when he was struck around 7 or 8 pm. The rider has only been described as an older Hispanic male, whose age has been various reported as 59 or 62. According to the Los Angeles Times, a 23-year old woman in a … Read More […]
This is sad for all bike riders, we need safe places to ride this should not happen to anyone, how sad.
The driver of the Avalanche was detained for questioning and then released according to the LA Times this morning.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/07/alleged-road-rage-driver-who-hit-bicyclist-released.html
It was only a bicyclist. We all know that bicyclists and pedestrians are freebies. You only killed a bicyclist, so we will only ask you a few questions, as long as you are sober and legal, then we let you go. Sickening.
I bet you any money this was a dispute on the amount of lanes needed for driving downtown. They were in a 4 lane road plus a lane for buses and turned onto a 5 lane road. The Kia driver probably said something along the lines of 4 lanes is plenty, which enraged the Avalanche driver.
RIP my friend, there will be people out there fighting for justice in this one.