A man has been killed in a bicycling collision in the small OC community of La Palma.
According to the Orange County Register, the victim was struck by a car driven by an 18-year old woman, while riding on La Palma Avenue just west of Moody Street around 10:45 pm.
The Orange County coroner reports he was taken to UCI Medical Center, where he died at 11:16 pm. He has been identified only as a man in his 30s.
The driver remained at the scene and called 911. She is not suspected of being under the influence.
No details are available on how the collision may have occurred; the Register says it is unclear if he was using a crosswalk at the time of the crash.
A streetview shows two lanes in both directions on La Palma with a center divider and left turn lane in both directions, with the same on Moody. There are curbside bike lanes on both streets.
This is the eighth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the second in Orange County; he is the first bicyclist killed in La Palma since at least 2011.
Update: The Orange County Coroner has identified the victim as 52-year old La Palma resident David Garcia. Thanks to Bill Sellin for the heads-up.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for David Garcia and his loved ones.
I keep seeing crosswalks mentioned in bike wrecks like they are important, or that using or not using the crosswalk somehow places the blame for the wreck on the victim. Almost as bad as the helmet question.
http://ws.ocsd.org/EServices/PressReleases_Default.aspx
FYI / Update: names him as David Garcia – 42
no – if born in Feb ’65 he was 52…
Thanks Bill.