Sometimes, sidewalks only offer the illusion of safety.
Especially when it’s a narrow sidewalk along a busy, fast-moving street.
According to the Orange County Register, a man was killed when he fell off a Santa Ana sidewalk, and was struck by a passing car.
The victim, identified only as a Hispanic man in his 60s, was walking or riding his bike headed east, on the north sidewalk, under the railroad overpass on First Street near Standard Ave around 8:30 pm when he somehow fell in front of the driver’s car.
A Santa Ana police advisory reports that the driver immediately stopped, and several bystanders gathered around the victim in the street to protect him from traffic. He was taken to OC Global Trauma Center, where he passed away.
The sidewalk appears to narrow significantly under the overpass, which could have caused the man to fall.
The police statement said the driver was only traveling 25 mph at the time of the crash, which seems unlikely; the speed limit is 40 mph on that section of First, and most Southern California drivers routinely exceed posted speeds by 5 mph to 10 mph, or more.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at 714/245-8200.
This is at least the 25th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware of in Orange County.
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.
Is that sidewalk even 2 feet wide? This is a clear case to ride in the lane. The needs to make this a one lane, each direction under the bridge with bike lanes and wider sidewalks.
Hope his family can sue the city for inadequate and dangerous conditions.