The Ventura County Star reports that a 41-year old bike rider was killed in a rear-end collision on Sunday.
According to the report, the rider, who has not been publicly identified, was headed east on East Telegraph Road near Howe Road around 6:35 pm when he was struck from behind by a pickup. A photo view of the area shows a wide shoulder, suggesting that the driver either drifted off the roadway or hit the rider while making a right onto Howe; it’s also possible that the rider may have left the shoulder for some reason, such as to avoid broken glass or a pothole.
A cryptic CHP dispatch report shows a fatal vehicle versus pedestrian collision at that time and location; for reasons that will forever escape me, the CHP often refers to cyclists as pedestrians in their reports.
The paper cites the CHP as saying the victim was not using all or some of the lights required by law after dark, nor was he wearing a helmet. However, whether a helmet would have offered any benefit at what was undoubtedly highway speeds is a matter of conjecture.
This is just the fourth cyclist killed in Southern California this year, excluding shooting victims, and the first in Ventura County. That compares to nine SoCal cyclists killed this time last year, and three victims in Ventura County in all of 2012.
My deepest condolences and prayers for the victim and his family.
Our prayers go up for the family and friends of the victim.
I went to the accident site I didn’t see no potholes or glass in that erea from impact erea to howe to make that turn is about 100 ft so driver must of drifted into bike lane. The last 4 bike accident that I’ve read r young drivers from 17 to 24 years. That’s not good I think the state should make it mandatory for everybody. To take a class in bicycle safety and awerness on the road. I think that would save a lot of lives. And also getting strict on bike riders that r not using the proper lighting at night. I’ve had a few close accidents. Because of that issue and I’m very careful when I see a bike I always make sure were there at. Due to me n my wife lost our son to a careless driver. But according to police my son was to blame how can you blame a six year old. This driver if he had used common sense my son would still b here. I do my part to bring awerness to kids about riding there bikes. Or when I z somebody speeding believe me they get. A earfullof what I got to say.