More bad news.
I’ve just received confirmation that a bike rider was killed in Sunland on Saturday night.
Late Sunday afternoon, I received an email reporting that a young man was hit and killed by a car on Foothill Blvd around 7 pm. Numerous comments on the Facebook page of the Foothills Paper recount seeing a body covered by a white tarp at the intersection of Foothill and McVine, with a bicycle lying nearby.
Now the Foothills Paper has just confirmed that Sunland-Tujunga resident Billy Martinez was killed in a left cross collision at that intersection around 7:20 pm Saturday.
According to the paper, Martinez was riding home from his job at Von’s in Tujunga when a car turned left in front of him; another report indicates that he may have been riding at speed without lights, but that is unconfirmed at this time. Employees at the ARCO station on the corner attempted to help him, but the paper reports he died of internal bleeding at the scene.
A memorial was held for him Sunday evening at the same location, at about the same time he was killed.
A comment on the Facebook page identifies him as the father of two small children.
This is the 71st bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 31st in Los Angeles County; it’s also the second bicycling death to occur in the county at almost the same time Saturday night.
And it’s the 13th cycling fatality in Los Angeles this year; a death that earlier had been attributed to Los Angeles actually occurred in unincorporated South LA.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Billy Martinez and all his family and loved ones.
Thanks to Meghan Jenks for the heads-up.
Our prayers go up for the family and friends of Mr. Martinez.
Thank you
he didn’t work at vons he went to the store never confirmed he went to vons it is greatly appreciated that you would wright to honor him but atleast get facts straight
so sorry to hear about this again.
The journey grief is hard may you leave on our heavenly Father he is the only that will be there Forever!! Praying..
This is very sad. My prayers to out to the family. : (
[…] be hard-pressed to blame 20-something cyclist Billy Martinez, who was killed when a driver turned left directly in front of him as he rode home from his job in […]
I am the cousin of Billy Martinez & one of the first people at the scene, he was on his way back home from Vons where he did not work! This tragedy has affected our hole family in the worst way possible, something everyone thinks will never happen in there family or to someone they love. Yes he leaves behind 2 children 7 & 4 yrs of age, he also was engaged to be married, love to mountain bike, loved to ride his bike, it was a passion he shared with other members of our family along with music he was a great musician & would teach kids how to play instruments on his free time. He will always be loved & missed by many.