For the third time in just three days, someone has been killed riding a bicycle on the mean streets of Southern California.
This time, on Pacific Coast Highway, one of the state deadliest roadways, from Ventura County to Camp Pendleton.
Multiple sources are reporting that a man was killed by a driver on PCH in Huntington Beach just before noon Monday.
The victim, identified only as a 70-year old man, was riding south on PCH when he began to merge left in an apparent attempt to turn left onto Newland Street around 11:50 am. He was struck by a 20-year old driver traveling in the same direction, who stopped following the crash.
Huntington Beach police found the victim lying unconscious in the roadway. Despite the efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene.
Police don’t think drugs or alcohol played a roll in the crash — at least not for the driver.
However, they noted in a press release that it’s “unknown if impairment was a factor with the rider of the bicycle,” which is a very odd statement to make.
It’s not clear what lane the driver was traveling in, or how fast he may have been going. Or why the victim apparently thought he had time to cross the busy roadway, or why police seem to question whether he was under the influence.
Anyone with information is urged to call Traffic Investigator Steve Flynn of the Huntington Beach Police Department at 714/536-5666.
This the 29th bicycling fatality that I’m aware of in Southern California this year, and the second we know about in Orange County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all his loved ones.
Thanks to Johnson Attorneys Group for the heads-up.
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