Once again, a bike rider has been killed on deadly Beach Blvd in Huntington Beach.
According to the Orange County Register, the victim was riding a bike on Beach Boulevard, near Indianapolis Ave in Huntington Beach, when he was struck by a driver just before midnight on Sunday, January 19th.
The man, identified as 30-year old Adam Nickelson from St. Paul, Minnesota, was taken to UCI Medical Center with extreme injuries, where he died four days later, on Thursday the 23rd.
No word on how the crash occurred, or whether Nickelson was living in Huntington Beach or just visiting the city.
The driver, a 64-year old Huntington Beach resident, remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
A street view shows a six lane boulevard with the sort of wide, straight lanes that encourage drivers to exceed the speed limit; another bike rider was killed half a mile away at Beach Blvd and Adams just one year earlier.
Nickelson’s obituary describes him as an old soul, known for “his kindness, funny quick wit, free spirit, his mischievous smile and compassion for humankind.”
Anyone with information is urged to call Accident investigator D. Kim of the Huntington Beach Police Department at 714/536-5666.
This is at least the fifth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first that I’m aware of in Orange County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Adam Nickelson and all his loved ones.
I’m assuming either this was a death long delayed in the reporting, or an error in transcribing the date. Sad in either case
2018 is an error. It just happened a few days ago in 2020.
We are praying for the family and friends of Mr. Adam Nickelson.
This isn’t for publication; simply a private message, follow up to my previous long comment, relating to the situation with the many “tourist” sober living homes nearby the Beach Blvd corridor in Huntington Beach. Here’s an excerpt from the obituary of the young Minnesota man, who tragically died in the auto – bike crash on Beach Blvd.
QUOTE: “Adam’s legacy should be summed up by his favorite quote, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”.”
This supports my concern about this case in particular and the problem of inexperienced bicyclists from the sober living homes nearby Beach Blvd in general.
“wide, straight lanes that encourage drivers to exceed the speed limit”
Doesn’t this belong in the op-ed section? Isn’t this supposed to be a news article?
No on both counts.
Countless studies have shown that wide, straight traffic lanes lead to excess speeds, because there is nothing to slow drivers down. Don’t believe me? Next time you’re on a street like that, check your speedometer, then slow sown to the legal limit and watch everyone else pass you. Or blare on their horns.
As for a news article, if that’s what you want, click on the links for the original source this story is based one. That’s what they’re for.
Note that there are no marked bicycle lanes on Beach Blvd, making it one of the most dangerous places to ride, especially at night. That fact does not make this event any less tragic, but perhaps should be addressed to help prevent future tragedies of this nature.