This time the killer didn’t have a chance to sober up first.
The Orange County Register is reporting that a bike rider was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Newport Beach last night.
The driver, identified as 23-year-old Taylor Evans, fled the scene after striking two people riding their bikes on northbound Newport Boulevard near Industrial Way at 1:19 am.
One of the two victims apparently died at the scene. The other suffered undisclosed injuries.
Neither has been publicly identified at this time.
No word on how the collision occurred.
Evans was arrested a few blocks away at Newport Boulevard near E. 16th Street as he tried to push his damaged SUV out of the roadway. He was booked on suspicion of felony DUI with bodily injury, hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter.
A street view shows a six lane, high speed arterial roadway with a painted shoulder on the northbound side below Industrial Way, and a wide parking lane above it.
This is the 31st bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fifth in Orange County. This is also at least the 13th bicycling death in Newport Beach since 2010, an average of nearly two a year.
Update: The City News Service has identified the victim as 41-year old Costa Mesa resident Jose Vasquez-Perez. The story also places the location as Costa Mesa, though the crash is being investigated by the Newport Beach Police Department.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Jose Vasquez-Perez and his loved ones.
Old Newport is a favorite alternate to Newport Blvd for OC bikers, so this crash hits close to home.
My thoughts and prayers are with the survivor and the victim’s loved ones.
We offer up our prayers for the family and friends of Mr. Vasquez-Perez.
my question who is riding a bike at 1:20am?
Who’s driving a car at that hour?
Bicycles are a form of transportation, as well as recreation. Some people ride at that hour because it’s cool and they enjoy the mostly carfree streets; others because they’re coming home from a night out or just getting off work. And some because it’s the only form of transportation they have.
My cousin came from work that night stupid
My prayers are with both families. Not all the facts are in and there could be unknown factors. I know the driver and he is a Christian, a very sweet & loving young man that I’m sure is suffering in more ways than one. We all know someone that a single moment changed the rest of their lives.
Thank you
Kc thank you so much for your support