A San Diego-area man has been killed while riding his bike, the third bicycling fatality in Southern California this week.
According to the Union-Tribune, the 44-year old victim was struck by the driver of a pickup truck in Chula Vista around 10 pm last night.
The paper reports the collision occurred at Second Avenue and Palomar Street, where witnesses say the victim, who has not been publicly identified, went through the red light on southbound Second.
However, San Diego’s NBC-7 says he was traveling east on Palomar, which would mean the driver was on Second.
He suffered severe head and injuries, and died after being taken to a local hospital.
The 22-year old driver stayed at the scene; police don’t believe drugs or alcohol use was a factor.
A street view shows a four lane road with left turn bays on Palomar, and a two lane street on Second. Palomar has a 35 mph speed limit, while residential Second should have a 25 mph limit.
The severity of the victim’s injuries, despite wearing a helmet, would suggest that the driver may have been traveling faster than that.
This is at least the 36th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 7th that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
It comes after a bicyclist was killed in LA’s San Fernando Valley on Monday, and another was the victim of a fatal hit-and-run in Torrance yesterday.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all his loved ones.
We offer up our prayers for the family and friends of the victim.