For the second time in two days, a bike rider has been killed in San Diego County.
Multiple sources are reporting someone on a bicycle was killed while riding on eastbound State Route 76, near North River Road outside of Bonsall this morning, less than a day after a man was killed in a Santee collision.
The Village News offers more details, placing the crash just west of North River Road around 10:24 am.
According to the paper, the victim was riding east on SR 76 when he was struck by the driver of a semi-truck traveling in the same direction.
No identification or description was given for either the victim or the driver.
The driver returned to the scene, which suggests he or she initially kept kept going. It’s possible they may not have known they hit someone at first if they sideswiped the victim.
Otherwise, the driver should have been aware of the impact.
A street view shows SR 73 is a divided highway with two lanes in each direction and a paved, painted shoulder, along with a right turn slip lane the victim would have had to navigate in order to stay on the highway.
This is at least the 65th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 11th that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
Update: The driver, who has not been identified, was allegedly stoned on some unspecified drug at the time of the crash.
He reported drifted off the roadway onto what the CHP identifies as a bike lane, where the victim was riding, then returned to the scene after finding a safe place to turn around.
Which does not explain why he didn’t simply stop after hitting the victim.
The 57-year old Santa Fe Springs resident was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
Meanwhile, the victim has been identified only as a 58-year old Oceanside resident riding a KHS road bike.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all his or her loved ones.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s loved ones.
Praying for the family and friends of the victim.
It sounds like a serious tragedy! I feel sorry for both parties involved. One man’s life was cut short and the man behind the wheel is going to have to fight for his life. I am sure it was an accident, a horrible one but still an accident, and why was the bicycle on a hwy in the first place? Isn’t that against the law? I am praying for both men!
No, bicycles are allowed on all roadways where cars are allowed, with the exception of some limited access highways. So the victim was riding there legally.