A man is dead after a bicycling crash. And this time, there doesn’t appear to be a driver involved.
According to multiple sources, a 60-year old man was found lying in the street after apparently falling off his bicycle in Del Mar Saturday morning.
Sheriff’s deputies found the victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, on the 1900 block of Jimmy Durante Blvd, just after 10 am.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
There’s no word on how long he may have been there before he was discovered.
Investigators say he appears to have lost control of his bicycle, and wasn’t involved in a collision.
However, there’s no word on why he may have lost control. It’s possible he could have struck a pothole or some sort of obstacle while riding at speed, lost a tire, or been the victim of a too-close pass — which would make it hit-and-run.
There’s also no word on whether he had a cycling computer or Strava account that could shed some light on what happened. So unless investigators find a witness or video of the crash, we may never know the cause.
Anyone with information is urged to call the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station Traffic Division at 760/966-3555.
This is at least the 43rd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 11th that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
Update: Longtime San Diego bike advocate Serge Issakov has forwarded a video with a possible explanation for the crash.
Issakov reports the site is at the bottom of a descent with a typical 4% grade, where road bicyclists typically reach speeds of 26 to 30 mph, while a KOM could be somewhere in the 40 mph range.
The typical car-ticker plastic bollards show clear signs of being run over more than once, and would likely have been virtually invisible under the typical Del Mar morning marine layer. Let alone if there was any fog or haze in the morning hour.
But even without hitting the post, cracks visible in the pavement could have easily destabilized the victim. Which could have been enough to send him into the curb or the grate in the gutter, and onto the sidewalk.
And at those speeds, it might not have mattered whether he was wearing a helmet.
All I can say, after watching that video, is I hope the victim’s family has a good lawyer.
If not, I can sure as hell recommend one.
Meanwhile, a comment from a woman calling herself the victim’s sister identifies him as Marcus Yepiz, though that has not yet been confirmed.
It’s just a hunch,
I have a photo that might be helpful?
your WordPress site doesn’t allow user response:
How can it be forwarded to another email address?
Thanks
You can find my email on the “About” page.
I also couldn’t find your email… : (
I don’t post it on here to deter email scraper bots, but you can reach me at ted@ thenameofthissite .com. And I am so sorry for your loss.
This is Marcus Yepiz’s sister. He was the bikerider. Please send photo jenmuse5858@gmail.com
Seeing the location and the flex posts I have to wonder if the post was a factor. Just 2 weeks ago, I came upon new bollards, in a place I have cycled through thousands of times. They seemed to jump out of nowhere, and I believe it’s my many years of experience and good instincts that led to a quick avoidance maneuver. I know it definitely left me shaken.
The posts could be a factor. I have said that before. These flex posts dont save you from cars but they are a hazard to bike riders. The pavement is NOT likely an issue from looking at the video. Jumping to conclusions without the full police report or looking at the bike the clothing the helmet and all the stuff involved. I do govt tort cases all the time and I see this as a steep uphill battle given what I see in the video which again is only about 20% of the total picture of what may have occurred.