Too often these days, the news leaves us with more questions than answers.
The was the case on Friday, when news broke that a man from Alaska was killed riding a bicycle in an early morning collision in Westminster.
According to KCAL News, the victim was riding in the traffic lanes near 20th Street and Beach Boulevard around 5 am Friday, when he was struck by the driver of a Lincoln Town Car.
The driver stopped and called 911 after the crash, and police did not suspect he was under the influence.
The victim, identified only as a 54-year old Alaska resident, died at the scene.
However, there’s no explanation of whether he was visiting Orange County, or was living here now.
There’s also no word on what was meant by “riding in the traffic lanes.” He would have been in the traffic lanes if he was crossing Beach Blvd. Or if he was riding on Beach, there’s no other place he could have been, since there are no bike or parking lanes.
And there’s no word on how fast the driver was going, or whether the victim had lights on his bike in the pre-dawn darkness.
Hopefully, we’ll get more answers soon. But I wouldn’t count on it.
Anyone with information is urged to call Westminster Police Department Traffic Division Investigator Stewart DeJong at 714/548-3787.
This is at least the 25th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the sixth that I’m aware of in Orange County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all his loved ones.
