Someone riding a bicycle was killed by the driver of a Metro bus in Watts Friday afternoon.
Yet all we know about the victim is that Metro didn’t waste time blaming them for the crash.
According to KTLA-5, the victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, was stuck by the bus at Compton Ave and East Imperial Highway around 4:30 pm.
According to Metro, the bus was traveling south on Compton, when the bike rider allegedly ran the red light while apparently riding on Imperial Highway.
The victim was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. Metro expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
A photo from the scene shows the victim’s bike wedged underneath the bus. There doesn’t appear to be bicycle infrastructure in any direction.
As usual with collisions in unincorporated Los Angeles County, the crash will be investigated by the CHP. There should be video from the bus to determine what actually happened, and whether the victim actually ran the red light, or if something else may have caused or contributed to the crash.
Which is not to say that the victim didn’t run the red light. But Metro has an inherent interest in saying their driver wasn’t at fault.
This is just the second bicycling fatality that I’m aware in of Southern California this year, as well as the second in Los Angeles County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.
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