BikinginLA

Another day, another bike rider killed on the mean streets of Southern California.

Less than 34 hours after a man riding a bicycle was killed in a San Diego hit-and-run, another bike-riding man was killed by a semi driver in Riverside. But at least this time, the driver stuck around.

According to My News LA — since the Riverside paper of record seems to think stories than can be readily found elsewhere should be hidden behind a paywall — the victim was struck by the driver at 10:25 am Thursday at Indiana Ave and Jefferson Street, just south of the Riverside (91) Freeway.

A police detective reports the driver was turning right from Jefferson onto eastbound Indiana when the truck hit the bike rider in an apparent right hook. The victim, who has not been publicly identified, died at the scene.

Or as the detective put it, the “bicyclist and trailer collided,” as if no one was responsible for putting that trailer into the victim’s path.

To their credit, the driver immediately stopped following the collision and remained at the scene, as both the law and basic human decency require.

The victim’s mangled mountain bike can be seen lying in the street afterwards, next to markings indicating the track’s pathway as the driver turned. There is a bike lane on Jefferson, though it’s used as a parking lane for the local Toyota dealer.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Major Accident Investigation Team of the Riverside Police Department at 951/826-8723.

This is at least the 50th bicycling fatality that I’m aware of in Southern California this year, and the fifth in Riverside County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.