For the past few days, word has been circulating that a bike rider was killed in Rancho Cucamonga earlier this week.
Sadly, we’ve now received official confirmation.
Jeffrey Rusk forwards a NIXLE notification from the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department reporting that a man riding a bicycle was killed in a collision Tuesday evening.
The crash occurred at 5:44 pm at Rochester Ave and Victoria Park Lane in Rancho Cucamonga.
According to the report, the victim was riding west on Victoria Park, when he apparently turned right onto Rochester Ave. He was struck by a driver headed north on Rochester.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
The driver, a 30-year old man from Rancho Cucamonga, remained at the scene.
The intersection is controlled with a traffic signal in every direction; the report makes no mention who had the right-of-way. However, I’m told witnesses say the pickup driver ran the read light, and hit the victim from behind.
The victim has not been publicly identified, but friends say he was 60-year old San Bernardino resident James Zoltan Williamson.
Rusk describes Williamson as a 63-year old teacher at Heritage Intermediate school. He says he was the “friendliest guy, and a beast on the bike.”
And adds poignantly, “I will miss him.”
Anyone with information is urged to call the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department, a division of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, at 909/477-2800; ask for Deputies B. Ogas or G. Coss Y Leon.
This is at least the 70th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the ninth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.
He is also the third bike rider killed in Ranch Cucamonga since the end of June.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for James Zoltan Williamson and all his loved ones.
Thanks to Jeffrey Rusk and CLR Effect’s Michael Wagner for the heads-up.
The students deserve the name of the driver who is believed to have ran a red light and by doing so made a otherwise safe right turn deadly for there teacher.
Asking for info without naming the driver is facetious.
The school district even has a claim against operator as teachers are in short supply and his loss was preventive.
Speeding up instead of slowing down during rush hour deserves sanction beyond doxing concerns.
Traffic noise deafening In the 5 o’clock hour makes every car invisibly electric all but visually.
55 years of contract sheriff police might be enough these facts so far suck!
I hope the loss of this man turns more off to such driving than to biking. Too few of us bike but doing so is safening not just safe enough. By biking he saved lives of people like and unlike himself and deserves our respect as the risks he knowingly rightly took. I hope fellow teachers start biking to school if not already to show the impressionable cars are dangerous to drive for all but biking is our duty ACCORDINGLY not vice versa.
He would hate his death to deter ANYONE from biking or I am missing something.
Private cameras are NEEDED to publish every red light runner at this site forever. We could crowdfund that?
he was my homeroom teacher he was cool
I’m sorry for your loss. It’s hard when it hits so close to home.