An Oceanside man is dead, just because he rode his bike on a street that should have been safe.
And had the misfortune of sharing the road with someone who decided to get behind the wheels while high on heroin — by his own admission.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the victim was riding on Douglas Drive near Madra Lane, either in the street or on the sidewalk, when he was struck by the driver just before 5 pm at the entrance to the Mission View mobile home parks.
He died at the scene.
The victim was identified only as a man who appeared to be in his 50s.
The driver, a 52-year old Oceanside resident, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter after apparently failing a field sobriety test, and admitting that he was using heroin.
That could be escalated to murder if it turns out this wasn’t his first DUI offense.
There’s no word on how the crash occurred, but it seems likely the driver struck the victim while either entering or exiting the mobile home park.
San Diego’s Fox5 reported on the crash as well, but seemed more concerned about the effect on traffic from the street closure than the needless death of a human being.
This is at least the 11th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all his loved ones.
RIP to the Victim & his family.While this may have been the first bicyclists Death in San Diego,there have been deaths of motorcyclists.I represent one of the families who lost a loved one due to the gross negligence of a motorist who may have run a red light this time, and on eight other past instances.We have it captured on Video.
Yeah, fuck Fox. It’s only a cyclist. /s
Nuestras condolencias para la familia de la víctima. Esperemos que no quede impune este caso y haya justicia.
I live near there part time and drove by the aftermath, a screen hiding the body. So sad, RIP. Driver admitted to being on heroin as if that’s an excuse to kill someone. I would never ride on that stretch of road in the busy commercial district, and there’s so many active driveways that I don’t like riding the sidewalks either, I drive to the store here, unlike in the desert where I bike everywhere. Regardless we have the fabulous San Luis Rey River bike path here so I just safely ride it 5 miles to then along the beach at every occasion.