Once again, a bike rider is dead after somehow magically appearing in front of a driver.
According to the Ventura County Star, the victim was struck by an 18-year old driver on Saviers Road near Iris Street in Oxnard around 8:10 pm Thursday, although a local TV station places the time of the crash shortly after 10 pm.
The driver was headed south on Saviers when he said the victim, identified only as a man in his mid-20s, “suddenly appeared in front of (his) vehicle.”
The bike rider was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where he died.
The driver, who hasn’t been publicly identified, stayed at the scene, telling police he was unable to avoid the man’s bicycle.
There’s no explanation given for why the driver wasn’t able to see the victim or his bike.
However, in any case like this, where there doesn’t appear to be any surviving witnesses other than the driver, it’s important to remember that we’re only getting one side of the story.
It’s entirely possible that the victim somehow rode out in front of the driver’s car. But it’s also possible that he may have been riding safely in the bike lane on southbound Saviers, and the driver just didn’t see him.
Because no one, ever, comes out of nowhere.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Senior Officer Paul Knapp of the Oxnard Police Department at 805/385-7750 or email paul.knapp@oxnardpd.org.
This is at least the 13th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first I’m aware of in Ventura County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.
We offer up our prayers for the family and friends of the victim.
Greetings I live near there and there in NOT a bike lane in the south bound lanes – only in the north bound lanes. As such the rider would have been sharing the travel lane with vehicles. Check out Google Earth or Maps to verify.