There just doesn’t seem to be any end to the carnage on Southern California streets this year.
Ventura radio station KTVA is reporting a man riding a bicycle was killed in a Simi Valley collision Wednesday afternoon.
According to Ventura County Star, 69-year old Simi Valley resident Stephen Wright was riding his “10-speed style” road bike north on Sycamore Drive, south of Los Angeles Ave, when he was right hooked by the driver of commercial flatbed truck around 12:15 pm.
He died at the scene.
The driver stopped following the crash and cooperated with investigators. Police don’t suspect he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
There’s a painted bike lane on northbound Sycamore, but nothing to protect riders from vehicles turning onto Los Angeles, or into the parking lots below it.
A police commander notes Wright was wearing a helmet, which clearly didn’t do any good in this case. Nor would it be likely to in a collision like that.
Anyone with information is urged to call Simi Valley Traffic Officer Bryan Sarfaty at 805/583-6189 or email bsarfaty@simivalley.org.
This is at least the 32nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the second that I’m aware of in Ventura County.
That puts us on a pace for nearly 100 bicycling deaths this year — almost twice the average from just a few years ago.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Stephen Wright and all his loved ones.
