Yet another person has been left to die by a heartless coward in a motor vehicle.
According to the Whittier Police Department, a man was riding a bicycle on the 9100 block of Calmeda Ave when he was struck by the driver of a newer pearl-colored Lexus around 7:30 this morning.
The victim, who has not been publicly identified, died at the scene.
The woman who struck him fled the scene, and was last seen traveling west on Lambert Road.
Calmeda is a two lane residential street which should provide a safe place to ride. However, it connects two major streets and could offer a convenient cut-through route to avoid rush hour traffic.
The car is described as a four door with tinted windows and paper license plates, and is likely to have front end damage. Anyone with information is urged to call Officer Richard Jensen at 562/567-9261, Officer Esteban Medina at 562/567-9259 or the Whittier police Crime Tipline at 562/567-9299.
Once she’s caught, she should face a lifetime ban on driving as well as a lengthy prison sentence. Anyone without the common decency to stop for another human being, let alone observe the law, doesn’t belong on the streets.
Let’s hope that one day lawmakers, prosecutors, judges and the DMV will finally figure out that out.
This is the fourth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third in Los Angeles County; it’s also the seventh fatal bike crash in Whittier in the last four years.
Update: According to a reporter for KABC-7, the victim, who was on a BMX bike, was dragged 600 to 800 feet by his killer. Let that sink in — at least the length of two football fields.
That should elevate the case from simple felony hit-and-run to second degree murder. But it won’t.
Update 2: KTLA-5 confirms the victim was dragged across two city blocks, while police report the bike rider appears to have done nothing wrong that would have caused the crash.
Update 3: The victim has been identified as 46-year old Whittier resident Agustin Rodriguez Jr.
Update 4: KCBS-2 reports Rodriguez was killed when one driver paused to let him go by, and a driver following behind went around the stopped car, hitting him head-on.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Agustin Rodriguez Jr. and his loved ones.
Thanks to Jeff Vaughn for the heads-up.
We offer up our prayers for the family and friends of the most recent local victim of deadly hit and run violence.
I am so sorry to hear about this. My sincerest sympathies to the man’s loved ones.
The man that you speak of was my best friend. He was a son, a father, a grandfather, brother, uncle, and lived by anyone he ever met. He deserved better than this because he was a good man. The world is truly at a lost. I encourage anyone that knowers this driver please turn her in. Stop thinking about yourself think of the lives forever changed by your careless act. It not about you anymore you lost that right when you left my best friend to die by himself.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Jennifer. Let’s hope this killer turns herself in; if not, that someone who knows her does the right thing.
I’m so sick about this, I knew this man through his sister , from the very 1st second we met, he was always so kind, funny, went out of his way to make me feel at home, I Will forever be grateful for having met you Tin, you are a bright star shining up in the heavens and when I look up I will think of you my friend. RIP Love you, Rose Hoskins
Tin I’ve known you for almost 22 years though we didn’t really see each other more then just a couple times due to apersonal reason I will never forget you. We had a lot of fun kicking it with our other halves partying and tlkinf among each other. I’m blessed to have known you and will never forget you. One thing I will always remember and a,wahs puts a smile on my face is when I stayd inthecamper one night and you helped me color my hair at 5/6am in the middle of ur street. Thanks for being in my life. I will miss you.