Sometimes it seems like they just don’t want us to know how deadly our streets really are.
Far too often, when people riding bicycles in Los Angeles are killed or seriously injured in traffic violence, it never makes the news.
Or even a lousy LAPD press release.
Not even for a hit-and-run, where notifying the public could help identify and capture the suspect — which is why we have hit-and-run alert systems on both the local and state level that somehow never get used.
Yet that was the case yet again last month, when 42-year old Oscar Guardado was killed in a hit-and-run while riding his bike in LA’s West Adams neighborhood.
According to a fundraising page posted by his daughter, Guardado died on October 27th when he was struck by a drunk driver, who fled the scene afterwards; unfortunately, it’s only raised $825 of the modest $7,000 goal for funeral expenses.
Guardado’s death was confirmed by the County Medical Examiner’s office.
An attorney’s promotional page places the crash on the 2200 block of South Normandie Ave, at 10:12 pm, but does not say how they came by the information.
Unfortunately, that’s all we know right now.
There’s no word on how the crash occurred, whether an arrest has been made, or how they know the driver was under the influence.
There’s also no word on how many other cases like this could be out there that we’ve never heard about, either.
This is at least the 47th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 14th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.
Seventeen of those SoCal deaths we know about have been hit-and-runs.
Update: The LAPD has finally gotten around to letting us know about this crash.
At a press conference on Monday, November 17th — a full 20 days after the fatal hit-and-run — detectives confirmed that Oscar Ernesto Guardado was stuck by a driver at Normandie Ave and W 23rd Street at 9:55 pm on the night of October 27th.
The suspect vehicle is described as a black four-door sedan, but there’s no description of the driver at this time. Security video shows there may be other witnesses to the crash who have not yet come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD Sgt. Garbiel Nily of the South Traffic Division at 323/421-2500, or call the South Traffic Division Watch Commander after business hours at 323/421-2577.
As always, there is a standing $50,000 reward for any fatal hit-and-run in the City of Los Angeles.
Although the odds of finding the suspect would have been much higher had the department made this announcement in the hours after the crash, rather than weeks later.
Meanwhile, the crowdfunding page to help pay for Guardado’s funeral expenses has still raised only $1,400. If you have any extra money lying around, maybe you can give them hand.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Oscar Guardado and all his family and loved ones.
Thanks to someone who prefers to remain anonymous for the heads-up, and for putting the information together.
