More bad news on Southern California streets.
Multiple sources are reporting that a man was killed riding a bicycle in Santa Ana Sunday morning.
The victim, identified only as a 67-year old man, was apparently riding south on Bristol Street when he was struck by a driver traveling east on Edinger Ave around 8:30 this morning.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The driver remained at the scene, and police don’t suspect they were speeding or under the influence.
The intersection is controlled with a traffic signal in each direction, with bike lanes on Bristol above Edinger. There’s no word on who may have had the green light in the moments before the crash.
Anyone with information is urged to call Santa Ana PD Cpl. W. Hadley at 714/245-8216.
This is at least the 44th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and already the seventh that I’m aware of in Orange County.
The victim was also the fourth bike rider to die on SoCal streets in just the last eight days.
Update: The victim has been identified as 67-year old John Story.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for John Story and all his loved ones.
If the driver was headed East at that time of day he may have run a red light he couldn’t see in the glare of the sun.
1) I live in Santa Ana maybe 2 miles from this intersection. The sun doesn’t rise in line w eastbound Edinger. It’s more to the south, what would be driver’s right.
2) Eastbound traffic, if cyclist was riding south, would be the further lanes. So if the driver were to run the red light, it would be more likely the westbound traffic would hit him? More likely scenario IMO is if the cyclist was late in crossing the intersection and the cross traffic signal turned green.
Southbound Bristol; had the bike lane removed and a separated Cycle Track installed, but not all the way to the intersection of Edinger. Cyclists are forced into the right turn only lane before Edinger and if proceeding in the edge position, can easily be hidden from view behind traffic in the other travel lanes. Cycle Tracks require complete intersection control or should NOT be installed.
thank “traffic engineers” with legal immunity for bad decisions
I don’t know the area but when I read the post my first thought was wondering if a Class IV bikeway was involved. Totally agree—do it right or don’t do it at all. Nothing is way better than a crappy cycle track.