Seriously, this has got to stop.
For the fourth time just this week, someone has died riding a bicycle in Southern California.
Multiple sources are reporting that a 73-year old woman was killed by the driver of a pickup in a Koreatown crosswalk Monday morning.
The driver stopped briefly, then backed up and fled the scene.
The crash occurred around 6:40 am at Olympic Blvd and Vermont Ave, as the pickup was headed east on Olympic. The driver attempted to turn right onto Vermont, and apparently right hooked the victim as she rode east across Vermont.
Although that part isn’t exactly clear, because the reports say she was in the crosswalk on Olympic when she was struck; only My News LA says she was headed east, which would put her in the crosswalk on Vermont.
The driver stopped for a moment, then backed up onto Olympic and fled east.
The victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, was taken to a hospital, where she died sometime later.
Police found a white Dodge Ram pickup matching the description of the suspect vehicle nearby and took the driver into custody. Investigators note that drug use “may” have played a role in the crash, though it’s unknown if alcohol may have also been a factor.
The crash is still under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to call detectives with the LAPD’s West Traffic Division at 213/473-0234 or 1-877/527-3247.
This the 21st bicycling fatality that I’m aware of in Southern California this year, and the ninth already in Los Angeles County; it’s also the fourth we know about in the City of Los Angeles.
Six of those SoCal deaths have involved hit-and-run drivers.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and her loved ones.
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