Yet another Southern California bike rider has been murdered by a heartless hit-and-run driver.
My News LA is reporting that a 62-year old Hemet man was killed when the driver of an SUV slammed into his bicycle, with enough force to hurl the victim from the point of impact and shatter the man’s bike.
Banning-Beaumont Patch places the collision just before 7:30 pm Thursday on California Ave south of Stetson Ave in unincorporated Winchester, southwest of Hemet.
The victim, who has not been publicly identified, died at the scene before first responder could arrive.
The driver reportedly sped away from the scene. Police later arrested 38-year old Hemet resident Carlos Arturo Acosta, who is being held on $75,000 bond.
Investigators don’t believe drugs or alcohol played a roll, even though Acosta currently has an open DUI charge. And despite having four hours to sober up before he was taken into custody, if he was under the influence.
Video from the scene, which I am not embedding due to its graphic nature, shows the victim’s bicycle shattered into a dozen or more barely recognizable pieces, suggesting he was hit at a high rate of speed.
California Ave is a narrow, two-lane, dead-end roadway with no center line, which suggests speeds like that shouldn’t be possible, let alone recommended.
This is at least the 11th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware of in Riverside County.
Nearly half of those deaths have been hit-and-runs.
Update: The victim has been identified as 62-year old Hemet resident Glen Hysom.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Glen Hysom and all his loved ones.
