Yet another life has been needlessly taken by a cowardly driver who didn’t bother to slow down, let alone stop as required by law.
According to multiple sources, the unidentified victim was riding in a crosswalk on Beach Blvd at Adams Ave in Huntington Beach at around 2:10 am when the driver of a BMW blew through a red light and slammed into him.
The victim, described only as a man in his 30s or 40s, died shortly afterwards.
The driver apparently crashed into a tree about a half-mile away in Huntington Beach, and fled the scene on foot. He was taken into custody about a mile from that crash scene, based on information police found in the car, and booked on suspicion of vehicular homicide.
Police are investigating whether he was drunk or stoned at the time of the crash, which seems highly likely.
Video from the scene shows a mangled cruiser bike with plastic baskets front and rear, and a large amount of debris strewn in the street, suggesting the victim may have been homeless or collecting recyclables.
However, that is just speculation at this point.
Anyone with information is urged to call Huntington Beach Police Accident Investigator B. Atkins at 714/536-5666, or Investigator A. Turner at 714/536-5670.
This is at least the 16th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third I’m aware of in Orange County; two of those three deaths have been hit-and-runs.
Update: The victim has been identified by his mother as 33-year old Ray MacDonald, who lived in the Huntington Beach area for the past three years; he was killed the day after his birthday.
He leaves behind a daughter, and a loving family and friends.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Ray MacDonald and all his loved ones.
Beyond heartbreaking and so avoidable. Rest in peace unknown cyclist, you mattered.
Our prayers go up for the family and friends of the victim.
Hello, my name is Dani MacDonald, I am Ray MacDonalds mother. He was the bike rider that was violently killed by the hit and run driver that was running a red light on Beach Blvd and Adams. March 30th 2019. If you would like to know about Ray I would be happy to tell you. He has lived in the Huntington Beach area about 3 years, Both his father and I were born and raised in Southern California. Ray may have preferred a simple lifestyle but was by no means without family and friends. Ray helped me, and others, every Friday set up my tent at the HB PIER PLAZA ART FAIR. we spent every friday evening enjoying a dinner together. Ray and I spoke several times a week or we just hung out at the beach. Ray is so missed by his father and I . His sister is grieving tremendously. He has so many family and friends that miss him and loved him SO much! We are in shock that he is gone! The biggest heartache of all is that his Beautiful Daughter is left without her Daddy! Ray and I celebrated his 33rd birthday Friday the 29th with a Large Cookie dough Blizzard. I told him I loved him and to have a nice night. Saturday morning his father told me the terrible news that our son. Our beautiful son, was killed by a driver running a red light while Ray crossed at a cross walk on a green!
Hi Dani, I’m so sorry for your loss. There is no justification for what happened to your son; how he may lived had no bearing on his value as a human being, or lessens the tragedy in any way.
I’m so glad you got to spend one last birthday with Ray, and heartbroken that he was stolen from you so soon afterwards.
Please know that there are many people who care, even if we never had the privilege of meeting him.
Bless you and all your family.
Thank you , that means a lot ♡