Three crashes. Three deaths. Three counties. Two hit-and-runs.
All in less than 20 hours.
In a horrible weekend for the bicycling community, three innocent people were killed just because they were riding bicycles on Southern California streets.
The first came in Adelanto Saturday night, when a bike-riding man was killed in a hit-and run around 10:21 pm.
According to the Victorville News Group, 59-year old Adelanto resident Marty Sparling was crossing US Highway 395 at Cactus Road when he was struck by the driver of a 2008 Lincoln Navigator.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
Police identified the vehicle through a license plate found at the scene, naming 38-year old Erika Romero-Aguilar of Adelanto as the driver. Her Navigator was later found abandoned nine miles away at the Pilot Truck Stop on Highway 395 in Hesperia.
Romero-Aguilar’s whereabouts remain unknown at this time.
Anyone with information is urged to call Deputy L. Torres at the Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station, 760/552-6800.
This is at least the 52nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the seventh that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.
Seventeen of those deaths have been hit-and-runs.
My deepest prayers and sympathy for Marty Sparling and all his loved ones.
