No official confirmation yet.
However, Citizen is reporting that a bike rider was injured in a hit-and-run while riding on Santa Monica Blvd near the onramp to the 405 Freeway in West LA.
Video from the scene show a police canopy over the victim, which usually indicates a fatal crash; a commenter also said they saw police pull a sheet over the victim.
Another comment indicates the victim was run over by a second car while on the street.
This is an exceptionally dangerous section of roadway where the street narrows as passes underneath the 405, and where bike riders must navigate busy on- and off-ramps in both directions.
It’s also where Frank Guzman was killed riding his bike five years ago this month.
There’s no indication yet just where or how the crash occurred, or any description of the driver or suspect vehicle.
If this is confirmed — and there’s every reason to believe it will be — it will be at least the 65th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 31st that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also the 23rd bicycling death in the City of Los Angeles since the first of the year.
Those numbers were recently increased following a report of 13 deaths in the City of Los Angeles that we were previously unaware of.
At least 18 of those SoCal bicyclists have been the victims of hit-and-run drivers.
Update: The LAPD has confirmed that someone riding a bicycle was killed in a hit-and-run around 10:30 Tuesday night, placing the crash at Santa Monica and Cotner Ave.
Update 2: This places the crash on the north side of the street, at the northbound onramp to the 405 Freeway — just after the bike lane ends, unceremoniously dumping riders into heavy traffic. Thanks to Danny Gamboa for the photo.
Update 3: The victim has been identified as 46-year old Aaron Cobb.
Photo by Danny Gamboa
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Aaron Cobb and his loved ones.
