Once again, a bike rider has been killed while riding on a SoCal freeway.
According to a story from the City News Service, 43-year old Compton resident Nelson Mariano Velez-Segovia was inexplicably riding in the right lane of the 91 (Gardena) Freeway near Wilmington Ave in Compton early Thursday morning.
At 6:40 am, a driver was reportedly unable to avoid him, and slammed into Velez-Segovia at roughly 55 mph.
Not surprisingly, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The LA County Coroner’s office places the location as the freeway onramp; however, neither source mentions which direction he was traveling in.
No explanation is given for why he was riding on the freeway, particularly in the traffic lane; bicycles are prohibited from all limited-access highways in Los Angeles County.
It’s possible he may have been riding on the shoulder, and moved into the traffic lane when the shoulder disappeared at the onramp. Or he may have been forced into the lane by cars entering the freeway.
Unfortunately, we’ll probably never get any answers beyond what is contained in the brief story.
This is at least the 57th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 25th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Nelson Mariano Velez-Segovia and his loved ones.
We offer up our prayers for the family and friends of Mr. Nelson Mariano Velez-Segovia.