It only took three days into the new year for the second person to be killed riding a bicycle in Southern California.
And both in the Coachella Valley.
New Channel 3 in Palm Springs reports that 72-year-old Patrick Petre died on Friday, one day after he was struck by a driver in Palm Desert.
The crash occurred around 6:30 am Thursday at Fred Waring Drive and San Pablo Ave, just five miles from where another man was killed riding a bike in Rancho Mirage a little more than 20 hours earlier.
That victim has not yet been publicly identified.
In both cases the driver remained at the scene. And just like the earlier case, there’s no word on how the crash that killed Petre occurred, or who was at fault.
Hopefully we’ll learn more soon.
Petre is the second bicyclist killed in Southern California this year, and the second in Riverside County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Patrick Petre and his loved ones.
Thanks to Jeff Rusk for the heads-up.
The “Ghost Bike” memorial system needs a rethink — If the goal is also communication about safety in mobility in the public right-of-way.
Suggestions? I have my own ideas, but to start I’d like to know what your readers think.