Update: LA’s bloody hit-and-run epidemic goes on, as bike rider killed in Northridge Monday night

It’s happened again.

According to KNBC-4, a bike rider has died after being hit by a car in the San Fernando Valley last night.

The victim, publicly identified only as a man in his 20s or 30s, was riding near the intersection of Plummer Street and Winnetka Ave in Northridge when he was struck by a silver Mustang convertible around 9 pm. No word on which street he was on or what direction he or the car that hit him was going.

The site a typical Valley intersection, offering the sort of wide, multi-lane streets that encourage speeding and aggressive driving.

The driver fled the scene, abandoning the car on the 10100 block of Oso Ave. Don’t be surprised if the car ends up being reported stolen; even with the vehicle in hand, the police must place the driver behind the wheel before they can make an arrest.

This is the 58th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 25th in Los Angeles County, exceeding the county’s total for each of the last two years. It’s also the 10th bicycling fatality in Los Angeles this year, doubling the total of five in both 2011 and 2012.

And it’s the 14th fatal hit-and-run involving a bike rider in Southern California since the first of the year, and the ninth in LA County — eight of which have occurred in the City of Los Angeles.

Update: I’m told this intersection is actually in Chatsworth, rather than Northridge. 

Update 2: Northridge-Chatsworth Patch identifies the victim as 39-year old Victor Awad of Canoga Park. Awad west riding west on Plummer when he was hit by the Mustang headed north on Winnetka. He was taken to Northridge Hospital, where he died early this morning.

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD Detective Laurino at 818/644-8115.

Thanks to Jeshizaemon and LAPD Sgt. Stephen Egan for the heads-up.

Update 3: The LAPD has announced the arrest of 51-year old John Bracamonte for the hit-and-run death of Victor Awad. Hopefully, more details soon.

My sympathy and prayers for Victor Awad and his family. 

23 comments

  1. JD says:

    We offer our prayers and condolences for the family and friends of Mr. Awad.

  2. […] Cyclist Killed in Northridge Hit and Run (NBC4, Biking in L.A.) […]

  3. Admin says:

    So sorry to read this news. Condolences to Mr. Awad’s family and friends. It’s just become a tickertape of deaths and catastrophic injuries. As bicycling increases, we’ll see more of it rather than less without serious change at all levels from motorists, bicyclists, law enforcement, and government.

  4. ValleyBall1 says:

    I was just about to go on a ride last night (with two kids, nights are all I have) when a friend of mine called with the bad news; he was president of a local print company in the valley and she knew him well. God bless his daughter and family as they try to heal from this terrible and inexplicable act.

    The hit may have been an accident but the run is now a felony. How can someone leave another human to die on the road?

    • bikinginla says:

      I’ve been asking that same question as long as i’ve been doing this.

      • ValleyBall1 says:

        I find it SO hard to believe that not one person saw this collision take place. While that intersection is certainly not Grand Central Station, it’s also no ghost town.

        • David Tee says:

          im actually very familiar with this intersection. it is actually very unpopulated at night with very few cars on the street. a lot of them are driving a bit fast especially on winnetka in that area.

  5. Hanon Awad says:

    Victor was my cousin. Thank you all for your prayers.

  6. ValleyBall1 says:

    Please post any funeral arrangements, Hanon. My friend lost touch with Victor but I’m sure she’d like to attend. God bless.

  7. Once upon a time I was very good friends with his sister. I knew Victor, his wonderful loving parents and his adorable daughter. I was very heart broken to hear of this. I send my love to the whole family and I pray for peace and healing.

  8. ValleyBall1 says:

    Located memorial information here:

    http://kingtutprinting.com/blog/victor-awad-memorial/

    God bless!

  9. Prentiss Jenkins says:

    PGreat police work. They caught the dirt bag that killed the bicyclist Victor Awad. I am sure that there is a website out there on the internet encouraging people to use their cars to hit and kill pedestrians and run. It is like what happened in 1975 when the deatdeamovie Death Race 2000

  10. Listen up bicyclist! There are psycho motorist out there that drive around looking for bicyclist to run down. I am a bicylist. I ride my bike every day but I only ride on the sidewalk. I am not stupid enough to ride in the street. There are bicyclist that believe they have the right of way over cars and trucks but when it is all said and done their Head stones at theur grave site will read: Here lies a bicycle idiot believe what we say, they got mashed by a car but they had the right-of-way. Remember. If you ride in the street you will get yours sooner or later. Bicycle Warrior.

    • bikinginla says:

      You are entitled to your opinion. However, statistically, you are at far greater risk riding on the sidewalk than in the street. And the risk of a fatal collision while riding a bike works out to one in 6.3 million.

      I’ve personally been riding — and observing the right-of-way — for nearly 35 years; 25 of those right here in Los Angeles. By your account, I should have been dead years ago, along with the hundreds of thousands of other bike riders in this city.

      I’d say that alone is proof you’re wrong.

      • Biking in L. A. Over 300 bicylist have been killed riding in the streets from 2011 to 2015. If all of those people had been riding on the sidewalk they would still be alive today. You quote stats on what would happen if bicyclist ride on the sidewalks. Bicyclist ride on the side walk all the time and there is not one recorded death or major injury of a bike and pedestrian accident in the US regarding bike a sidewalk pedestrian. Check you facts an stay the hell out of the street or you might not make it to that 36 year my friend. Remember, they are out there waiting for you to turn your back on them and then you will become one of those statistics. Mr. Noe-it-allz

        • bikinginla says:

          According to the Centers for Disease Control, an average of six pedestrians are killed in collisions with bike riders each year, though how many of these collisions occur on sidewalks is unclear. And untold others are seriously injured every year.

          Every year several sidewalk riders lose their lives in collisions with motor vehicles in Southern California; at least seven last year, and four so far this year.

          In fact, most studies have shown the risk of serious injury is roughly twice as high for cyclists riding on the sidewalk compared to riding in the street, while one researcher concluded the risk factor was nearly 25 times higher.

          This is due in part to limited sight lines, the risk of cars exiting and entering driveways, and drivers not expecting bike riders to enter the intersection off of sidewalks, especially when riding against traffic.

          You fail to cite any parameters for your numbers on fatalities. It you’re referring to deaths in Los Angeles County, 130 riders have died since 2011; in the seven-county SoCal region, over 350 cyclists have died. If you’re referring to the US, that number is somewhere around 3,000.

          it is likely, as you suggest, that the cyclists killed while riding in the street might still be with us if they’d been on the sidewalk — simply because they would not have been there when the collision occurred. They also might still be here if they’d stopped to tie a shoelace, and delayed arriving at that spot by a few seconds.

          However, given the statistically higher risks of sidewalk riding, we can assume that many more would have died if everyone rode on the sidewalk, as you suggest.

          So yes, I’ve checked my stats. When you have some to back up your position, maybe you can try again.

          And thank you for suggesting that I know it all. Sadly, that’s not true. But at least I do my research.

          • first of all I was referring to myself as Mr. Noe-it-ALL. Thanks for your gracious response to my most passionate response of your most intimate response to bikes on the sidewalk vs the street. I have been hit by a car twice as I was leaving the sidewalk and crossing into the street. I think your use a of the shoelace scenario is desperate at best. I suggest that we stick to the facts. I stateded that over 300 people were killed in L. A. which included Los Angeles county so base on your numbers my numbers were right. Stick to the facts and stay out of the street or YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED. Mr. Know-it -All.

            • bikinginla says:

              Let’s see. You’ve been hit twice while riding in a crosswalk after leaving the sidewalk, but somehow insist that’s safer than riding in the street.

              I’d strongly urge you to take one of the free bike safety classes offered by Metro and the LACBC so you can learn how to ride your bike safely. And maybe avoid getting hit again.

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