Update: Bicyclist found dead in Cathedral City hit-and-run Saturday night

The local TV station calls it an accident.

A better description would be the actions of a heartless coward with a callous indifference to human life.

Or maybe just murder.

According to the Desert Sun, the body of an unidentified bicyclist was found lying in the roadway on Dinah Shore Drive in Cathedral City around 9 pm Saturday. It was clear he had been hit by a car.

KESQ-TV reports that the victim, identified only as a man in his late 30s or early 40s, was found on the westbound side of Dinah Shore just west of Whispering Palms on the Dinah Shore Bridge. His bike was found 50 feet away in the median on the eastbound side of the road.

There were no apparent witnesses, and no description of the car or driver at this time.

A satellite view shows a four lane roadway with a center divider west of Whispering Palms. Based on the limited description, there’s no way to tell which direction the victim was riding, whether he was on Dinah Shore or attempting to cross it.

There’s no speed limit sign visible in the street view; however, the distance his body was apparently thrown would suggest he was hit at a high rate of speed.

There’s also no way of knowing whether he might have survived if the driver had stopped and called for help as the law, and basic human decency, requires.

This is the 55th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the sixth in Riverside County. That compares with 69 in Southern California this time last year, and six in the county.

Update: The victim has been identified as 37-year old Sergio Reynoso; a gofundme account has been established to help pay funeral expenses. The driver reportedly turned himself in on Tuesday, which would have given him or her plenty of time to sober up.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Sergio Reynoso and his loved ones.

6 comments

  1. JD says:

    Our prayers go up for the family and friends of the victim.

  2. What a tragic end to what may have been a good life. We’ll say a prayer for his loved ones.

  3. Paul Harris says:

    In the small Coachella Valley where I live we have about 10-12 pedestrian and bicycle deaths due to run ins with cars. The Coachella Valley Assoc. of Governments is planning a 50 mile roadway separated from autos that will be for pedestrians, joggers, bicycles and low-speed electric vehicles. The pedestrians will be separated from the bikes and NEVs. 3/4ths of the money for this project has been raised, mainly grant money, but certain elite NIMBY residents of Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells, who make up only about 8% of the population combined have been doing everything possible to deter this tremendous life-saving project known as the CV Link.

  4. Jeffrey Clarkson says:

    The other problem out here in the desert is that there are very few street lights. People go on about how they love to see the stars, and old-time city councilwoman (1948-1960) Ruth Hardy made it her cause to have no street lights here in Palm Springs. It’s all fine and good to see the stars, but you can’t see pedestrians or bikers until you’re right on them. It might have been okay in the 1950s, but some residential streets here now have speed limits set at 45 mph. Bikes (and pedestrians), speeders, and no street lights make a deadly combination out here at night. I love to bike around Palm Springs, but my bike goes in the garage at sundown.

    • Paul Harris says:

      Very good observation, Jeffrey. I know the planned CV Link will have low-level solar lighting and be available 24 hours a day. Safe and peaceful biking to you.

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