In yet another tragic cycling collision, a Victorville middle school student was killed after reportedly running a stop sign on Saturday.
The San Bernardino Sun reports that 12-year old Zachariah Houck was riding south on Joshua Road in Oak Hills with a group of friends around 6:45 pm when he went through the stop at Mesquite Street, and was struck by a Lincoln Navigator driven by George Peery.
Peery reportedly tried to swerve to the right to avoid Houck’s bike, but was unable to stop in time. Houck was pronounced dead at the scene; tragically, his parents arrived at the scene before police.
He had just started his first week of 7th grade on Thursday. The Victorville Daily Press quotes his aunt speaking for the family.
“We’re all numb,” Sarah Houck-Garcia, Houck’s aunt, said Monday. “It’s been tragic for the entire family. He was just a big love bug.”
According to the Daily Press, his middle school is accepting donations for the family.
Quail Valley is collecting donations for Houck’s family at the front office including gift cards, money or letters and cards of encouragement, according to Principal Dennis Zimmerman. Anyone wishing to make a donation to Houck’s family can visit the school at 10058 Arrowhead Road in Phelan or make out a check in the name of Zachariah Harrison Houck II and take it to a Wells Fargo branch.
This is the 48th confirmed traffic-related cycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 3rd in San Bernardino County.
My deepest sympathies to Houck’s family and friends.
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Someone needs to check the driving record of The driver. I heard today from one of Zachariah’s relatives that he has many speeding tickets and a hit-and-run on his record. This person also said that the vehicle dragged Zachariah’s body 70 feet and stopped after an additional 80 feet. No skid marks. The speed limit there is 30 MPH. Shouldn’t the police investigate this?