Archive for Injuries and Fatalities

Man riding bicycle struck and killed by 2nd driver after Coachella hit-and-run; 19th fatal SoCal bike hit-and-run this year

December 9, 2023 / / Comments Off on Man riding bicycle struck and killed by 2nd driver after Coachella hit-and-run; 19th fatal SoCal bike hit-and-run this year

A man riding a bicycle was struck by a hit-and-run driver in Coachella Thursday night, then left in the road for another motorist to finish the job.

Or maybe it was Indio. Or even Thermal.

Multiple sources reported on the crash, but couldn’t seem to agree on the location.

But Google Maps puts in it Coachella, so we’ll go with that.

The victim was reportedly riding south in the 54000 block of Grapefruit Blvd, north of Palm Street, when he was run down from behind by a heartless coward, who fled the scene, around 11:35 pm.

He was then struck by a second driver, who stuck around after the crash and called 911.

The victim was identified only as a 54-year old man from Coachella.

There’s no word on whether he was riding in the traffic lane when he was struck; a street view shows a two lane highway with a minimal paved shoulder he could have been using.

It’s also not clear how long after the initial impact he was struck by the second motorist, or if he could have survived if the first driver had the basic human decency to stop after hitting someone.

The second driver won’t face charges in the crash. The same can’t be said for the coward who fled.

Unfortunately, no description is available for vehicle used in the hit-and-run, or for the person driving it. Anyone with information is urged to call CHP Officer Windsor at 760/772-5300.

This is at least the 67th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the ninth that I’m aware of in Riverside County.

At least 19 of those SoCal bicyclists have been the victims of heartless hit-and-run drivers.

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

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , , , ,

Update: Man killed riding bicycle in Santa Clarita Saturday afternoon; at least the 32nd bicycling death in LA County this year

November 25, 2023 / / Comments Off on Update: Man killed riding bicycle in Santa Clarita Saturday afternoon; at least the 32nd bicycling death in LA County this year

Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be any end to the danger on our streets this year.

That was driven home yet again in Santa Clarita Saturday afternoon, when a man was killed in a collision while riding his bicycle.

According to The Signal, the victim was struck by the driver of a Mini Cooper around 12:42 pm at Market Street and Railroad Ave.

While he was down on the street, the man, who has not been publicly identified, was then run over by another driver. He died at the scene.

Both drivers reportedly remained following the crash.

There’s no word on where in the intersection the crash occurred, or how the initial collision happened.

However, raw video from the scene appears to show the Mini Cooper stopped in front of a building on the northwest side of the intersection, with the victim’s body blurred out on the corner.

Which should serve as a warning to be careful deciding whether you really want to click on the link.

This is at least the 66th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 32nd that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

Update: The victim has been identified as 42-year old Franklin Mejia.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Franklin Mejia and his loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

68-year old man riding bike killed by elderly driver in Fountain Valley left-cross crash; 65th SoCal bike death this year

November 22, 2023 / / 2 comments

We may have a lot of things to be thankful for this year. But safe streets clearly isn’t one of them.

That was driven home once again yesterday afternoon, when a man was killed by an elderly driver while riding his bike in Fountain Valley.

According to News Santa Ana, the victim was riding east on Ellis Ave at Magnolia Street when he was left-crossed by an 84-year old woman turning onto Magnolia from westbound Ellis around 3:33 pm.

The victim was identified as 68-year old Fountain Valley resident Charlie Chen. He died after being taken to a nearby hospital.

The driver, identified as Huntington Beach resident Barbara Peters, remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

Police say she did not appear to be under the influence. However, there’s no way to know if age played a factor.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Fountain Valley Police Department’s Traffic Bureau at 714/593-4481, incident #23-40091.

This is at least the 65th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the eighth that I’m aware of in Orange County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Charlie Chen and all his loved one. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Update: Bike rider apparently killed in hit-and-run at 405 onramp in West LA

November 22, 2023 / / Comments Off on Update: Bike rider apparently killed in hit-and-run at 405 onramp in West LA

No official confirmation yet.

However, Citizen is reporting that a bike rider was injured in a hit-and-run while riding on Santa Monica Blvd near the onramp to the 405 Freeway in West LA.

Video from the scene show a police canopy over the victim, which usually indicates a fatal crash; a commenter also said they saw police pull a sheet over the victim.

Another comment indicates the victim was run over by a second car while on the street.

This is an exceptionally dangerous section of roadway where the street narrows as passes underneath the 405, and where bike riders must navigate busy on- and off-ramps in both directions.

It’s also where Frank Guzman was killed riding his bike five years ago this month.

There’s no indication yet just where or how the crash occurred, or any description of the driver or suspect vehicle.

If this is confirmed — and there’s every reason to believe it will be — it will be at least the 65th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 31st that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also the 23rd bicycling death in the City of Los Angeles since the first of the year.

Those numbers were recently increased following a report of 13 deaths in the City of Los Angeles that we were previously unaware of.

At least 18 of those SoCal bicyclists have been the victims of hit-and-run drivers.

Update: The LAPD has confirmed that someone riding a bicycle was killed in a hit-and-run around 10:30 Tuesday night, placing the crash at Santa Monica and Cotner Ave.

Update 2: This places the crash on the north side of the street, at the northbound onramp to the 405 Freeway — just after the bike lane ends, unceremoniously dumping riders into heavy traffic. Thanks to Danny Gamboa for the photo.

Update 3: The victim has been identified as 46-year old Aaron Cobb. 

Photo by Danny Gamboa

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Aaron Cobb and his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

75-year old Camarillo man dies after falling off his ebike on Friday

November 9, 2023 / / Comments Off on 75-year old Camarillo man dies after falling off his ebike on Friday

It’s not getting any better out there.

But at least this time, there wasn’t a driver involved.

According to Santa Barbara TV station KEYT, an elderly man died after crashing his ebike in Camarillo last Friday.

The victim, identified only as a 75-year old Camarillo resident, was riding north on Crestview Ave, just south of Avenida de Aprisa, just before 9 am when he reportedly lost control of his bicycle and fell into the street, suffering life-threatening injuries.

He was taken to a local hospital, where he died sometime later.

The Camarillo Police Department reports he was wearing a helmet. However, they didn’t say whether he suffered a head injury, which is the only reason that would be relevant.

Anyone with information is urged to call Camarillo Police Traffic Investigator Anthony Zacarias at 805/388-5126.

This is at least the 52nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and just the second that I’m aware of in Ventura County.

He’s also the second SoCal bike rider to die in a solo fall in the last week.

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

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Update: Man found dead in apparent high speed fall near entrance to Universal Studios; 5th LA County bike death in 10 days

November 5, 2023 / / 3 comments

Evidently, November is starting off the same way October ended.

For the fifth time in the last ten days, someone has died riding a bicycle in Los Angeles County — three in the City of Los Angeles.

According to multiple, nearly identical sources, a man who had been riding a bicycle was found dead outside the entrance to Universal Studios in an apparent hit-and-run early Sunday.

Paramedics found the victim lying in the street at 3799 Lankershim Blvd around 12:47 am Sunday, suffering from major injuries.

The victim died at the scene. He was described only as a man around 57 years old, which seems oddly specific.

Police aren’t confirming yet that he was killed in a hit-and-run. That seems highly likely, however, though it’s also possible he may have lost control of his bike on the steep hill.

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD investigators at 213/473-0234.

This is at least the 51st bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 17th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also at least the ninth time a person was been killed riding a bicycle in the City of Los Angeles since the start of the year.

And he’s the 16th SoCal bike rider killed in the past 30 days.

If this is confirmed as a hit-and-run, it would also be the 18th time someone riding a bicycle died in a hit-and-run in Southern California this year.

Update: At least it’s not hit-and-run this time. 

The victim was identified Monday as 57-year old Los Angeles resident Samuel Tessier. 

According to the LAPD, he appears to have been killed in a high-speed fall after apparently striking the curb on the steep downhill. 

Update 2: A ghost bike will be installed Tuesday, November 7th. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Samuel Tessier and all his loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Update: Valley Glen man dragged, killed by hit-and-run driver; 4th LA County bike death in 4 days, 15th SoCal rider killed in 25 days

October 31, 2023 / / 2 comments

Dear God, not again.

For the fourth time in four days, someone riding a bicycle has been killed on the deadly streets of Los Angeles County.

This time, it was hit-and-run. And should be considered murder, but probably won’t be.

According to multiple sources, the victim was found lying in the street at Van Nuys Blvd and Calvert Street in the Valley Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles around 11:40 pm last night, after being struck by a driver three-quarters of a mile away at Van Nuys and Burbank Blvd.

Or maybe he was found a third of a mile away at Van Nuys and Hatteras.

Which is the problem with news outlets mindlessly parroting police reports that too often contain major mistakes. Because the description of this crash doesn’t make any sense.

According to all three reports posted online, the victim was rear-ended by the driver while riding south on Van Nuys at Burbank Blvd, and dragged under the vehicle for multiple blocks.

Except both locations where the victim’s body was alternately described as being found at Calvert, or coming dislodged from beneath the vehicle at Hatteras, are north of the reported impact point, making it impossible to have been rear-ended while riding south.

It also seems extremely unlikely that the victim, described only as a homeless Hispanic man in his 40s, could have been found at Calvert after being dislodged at Hatteras. It’s possible he could have staggered nearly half a mile after being dragged by the fleeing driver, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

It’s also possible that the victim and the motorist were actually traveling north on Van Nuys, which would fit with where the victim’s body was dislodged, but would not explain the multiple locations.

Either way, the cops are now searching for a murderous coward in a red Toyota Camry or Corolla, who fled multiple block while dragging the victim’s body beneath their vehicle.

And if that’s not murder, I don’t know what is.

This is at least the 50th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 16th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also at least the eighth time a person was been killed riding a bicycle in Los Angeles since the start of the year.

Seventeen of those SoCal bicyclists have been the victims of hit-and-run drivers.

And he was the 15th person killed riding a bike in Southern California in the past 25 days.

Update: Now it makes a little more sense.

KABC-7 is reporting that the victim was actually struck by the driver at Van Nuys Boulevard at Delano Street.

The driver then continued south on Van Nuys, dragging the victim’s body nearly a mile to Van Nuys and Burbank. They made a U-turn at Burbank, dislodging the victim, before traveling north on Van Nuys then fleeing east on Hatteras.

Which means the victim, who died at the scene, was likely found at Van Nuys and Burbank. 

The station also describes the suspect vehicle as an older model, light-colored sedan. 

Update 2: The victim has been identified as 40-year old Trino Lopez, who police said was homeless. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Trino Lopez and his loved ones.

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Update: 60-year old man killed riding bike near LAX; 3rd LA County bike rider killed in 3 days, 14th SoCal victim in 24 days

October 30, 2023 / / 3 comments

Another day, another person killed riding a bicycle on the mean streets of Los Angeles County.

For the third time in just the last three days, a bike rider died after being struck by a driver in the county.

This time in Los Angeles, just south of LAX.

According to the website 2 Urban Girls, the victim was run down by an eastbound motorist while attempting to ride south across busy Imperial Highway at California Street, around 8:35 pm yesterday.

He was identified only as a 60-year old man.

The driver remained at the scene. Unfortunately, that’s all we know at this time; there’s no word on who may have had the right-of-way.

The intersection is controlled by a traffic signal, with four through lanes and a left turn lane in each direction on Imperial. That could make it difficult to cross the wide highway in the span of a short traffic signal cycle.

His death came after a woman died a day after she was struck by a driver in Santa Monica on Friday, and another man was killed riding his bike in Long Beach Saturday.

This is at least the 49th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 15th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also at least the seventh time a person was been killed riding a bicycle in Los Angeles since the start of the year.

And he was the 14th person killed riding a bike in Southern California in the past 24 days.

Update: The victim has been identified as 60-year old Robert Mack. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Robert Mack and his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , , ,

Update: Man riding bike killed in Long Beach crash; 13th SoCal bike rider killed in past 3 weeks

October 29, 2023 / / Comments Off on Update: Man riding bike killed in Long Beach crash; 13th SoCal bike rider killed in past 3 weeks

Please make it stop.

For the 13th time in the last 22 days, someone was killed riding a bicycle on the deadly streets of Southern California.

This time in Long Beach.

And just hours after another woman died in Santa Monica.

According to My News LA, a man was struck by a driver around 3:20 Saturday afternoon, while riding on Pacific Ave at Wardlow Road in front of the Metro Wardlow A Line station in west Long Beach.

The victim, who has not been publicly identified, died after being taken to a local hospital.

The driver stayed at the scene, and cooperated with investigators.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know at this time.

This is at least the 48th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 14th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also the fourth person killed riding a bicycle in bike-friendly Long Beach in 2023.

Update: At least now we know what happened. 

According to KCBS-2, the victim was riding across Pacific Place north of Wardlow when he was struck by a pickup driver traveling east on Pacific. He was struck with the side of the pickup, despite the driver’s attempt to swerve. 

Based on the description, it seems likely he was attempting to leave the Metro station, with no traffic signal or crosswalk to get across the roadways safely.

The driver, identified only as a 43-year old Long Beach resident, remained at the scene and attempted to resuscitate the victim before paramedics arrived. She reportedly cooperated with investigators, who said she did not appear to be distracted, impaired or speeding at the time of the crash. 

Anyone with information is urged to call the Long Beach Police Department at 562/570-7355. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his family.

 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Update: 69-year old woman taken off life support after Santa Monica bicycling collision; 12th SoCal bike rider killed in 3 weeks

October 28, 2023 / / 25 comments

It just keeps getting worse.

For the 12th time in 22 days, someone riding a bicycle has been killed on the mean streets of Southern California.

This time in ostensibly bike-friendly Santa Monica.

According to surf publication Shacked Mag, a 69-year old woman was riding at 19th Street and Idaho Ave around 8:45 am yesterday when she was struck by a driver.

She was taken to a local hospital. Sadly, Phil Gaimon reports the victim, a friend of his, was taken off life support this morning. She has not been publicly identified.

The driver remained at the scene, and reportedly cooperated with investigators.

A street view shows an intersection of two residential streets without lane markings. While it’s been awhile since I’ve ridden through there, I’ve occasionally used Idaho as a quieter alternative to busy Montana a block away.

Twitter/X user Mobility For Who offers a little more information about the crash site.

This is a 2-way stop, that the victim apparently rode through, but it’s also a neighborhood residential street with schools nearby. People have been asking the city for traffic calming measures there for years, from what I hear from residents. Drivers use 19th to cut through the neighborhood to get to/from San Vicente, so I guess the street is just setup to let them do that.

If you’re riding Idaho and crossing there, you’re basically just hoping that a speeding car isn’t coming hidden behind parked cars, so rolling through that stop sign often feels safer, just to get out of there as quickly as possible.

California recently passed a new law requiring daylighting at intersections, which might improve the visibility problem there. But sadly, it comes too late to help the victim of this crash.

This is at least the 47th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 13th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

Update: The Santa Monica Mirror reports the victim was apparently riding west on Idaho, when she was struck by the southbound driver, who didn’t have a stop sign.

Update 2: A Nextdoor post identified the victim as Tania Mooser. A vigil will be held in her honor this Friday.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Tania Mooser and her loved ones. 

Thanks to bikematic, Mobility For Who and Diana Williams for the heads-up. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,
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