Archive for Bicycle Safety

Person killed by cement truck driver in Ontario crash; a bicycle likely belonging to the victim seen underneath the truck

July 1, 2023 / / Comments Off on Person killed by cement truck driver in Ontario crash; a bicycle likely belonging to the victim seen underneath the truck

A person was killed in a collision with a cement truck in Ontario Friday morning.

And there’s a strong likelihood that the victim was riding a bicycle.

According to KTLA-5, the victim was apparently in the crosswalk on Archibald Ave at the onramp to the eastbound 60 Freeway in Ontario when he or she was struck by the driver of a cement truck turning onto the ramp around 8:35 am Friday.

The victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, died at the scene.

The driver told CHP investigators he believed the person was in the crosswalk at the time of the crash; an aerial view showed a tarp a few feet from the crosswalk.

When the driver pulled over a short distance later, there was a bicycle visibly lodged under the truck.

While it hasn’t been publicly confirmed that the victim was riding a bike, it seems pretty farfetched to conclude that the driver coincidentally ran over a bicycle and a pedestrian in separate incidents at nearly the same time.

If this is confirmed, it will be at least the 23rd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all their loved ones.

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

74-year old road bicyclist killed in apparent solo fall near Ojai; first Ventura County bicycling death this year

June 30, 2023 / / Comments Off on 74-year old road bicyclist killed in apparent solo fall near Ojai; first Ventura County bicycling death this year

This is now how we wanted to start the holiday weekend.

According to the Ventura County Star, an older man was killed in an apparent solo fall while riding a road bike near Ojai Friday morning.

The victim, identified as 74-year old Ojai resident Michael A. Chambliss, was riding east on Rancho Drive west of Del Norte Road, just west of the Ojai city limits, shortly before 10:45 am when he somehow lost control of his Bianchi Infinito, and fell to the street.

He was taken to an Ojai hospital after paramedics attempted to revive him, where he died sometime later.

A street view shows numerous cracks and potholes in the pavement, any of which could have caused the fall.

It’s also possible that he suffered some sort of medical event, or that the crash could have been caused by a passing motorist.

Unless someone witnessed it, we may never know.

Anyone with information is urged to call the CHP’s Ventura-area office at 805/662-2640.

This is at least the 22nd  bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first that I’m aware of in Ventura County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Michael A. Chambliss and all his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Update: 15-year old boy dies days after collision while riding ebike in Encinitas; 2nd bike death in San Diego County this year

June 25, 2023 / / Comments Off on Update: 15-year old boy dies days after collision while riding ebike in Encinitas; 2nd bike death in San Diego County this year

A teenage boy has died, no more than two days after he was struck by a driver while riding an ebike in Encinitas.

According to The Coast News Group, 15-year old Brodee Braxton Champlain-Kingman was riding north on El Camino Real this past Thursday.

He was apparently hit from behind by the driver of a work van, after allegedly changing lanes in front of the van. No time or location was given for the crash.

Champlain-Kingman was hospitalized at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla with major injuries; family members confirmed his death two days later, on Saturday.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police don’t believe he was under the influence.

However, there’s no word on whether any other witnesses saw the crash, or observed Champlain-Kingman change lanes.

Anyone with information is urged to call the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station Traffic Division at 760/966-3500.

The paper reports a candlelight vigil is scheduled for 7 pm Tuesday at San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas.

Meanwhile, a crowdfunding campaign to pay Champlain-Kingman’s medical and funeral expenses has raised over $21,000 of the $50,000 goal in just one day.

The crowdfunding page describes the teenager this way,

Brodee Braxton Champlain-Kingman was brought into this world on November 2nd 2007. During his 15 1/2 years, he touched many lives with his grace, compassion, determination and kindness. Anyone that knew Brodee could feel his authentic, heart-forward energy. Brodee was fiercely steadfast in his desire to excel academically, thrive socially and grind for those gains in the gym. Nothing was more striking than Brodee’s natural ability to connect with others and his sincere desire to reflectively grow in his relationships and life pursuits. He lived with grounded humility – always learning, always evolving.

This is at least the 21st  bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the second that I’m aware of in San Diego County.

Update: The San Diego Union-Tribune places the time of the crash as around 6 pm Thursday, near Encinitas Blvd. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Brodee Braxton Champlain-Kingman and all his family and loved ones.

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

Man riding bike killed in April hit-and-run in Historic South Central; 8th SoCal bicyclist killed by hit-and-run drivers this year

June 15, 2023 / / Comments Off on Man riding bike killed in April hit-and-run in Historic South Central; 8th SoCal bicyclist killed by hit-and-run drivers this year

Once again, someone riding a bicycle was killed on the streets of Los Angeles

And once again, we didn’t find out until weeks later.

The LAPD announced today that a man was killed by a hit-and-run driver over two months ago in Historic South Central.

The victim, identified as 68-year old Salvador Gonzalez Arechiga, was riding east on Adams Boulevard at Trinity Street around 3:35 am April 13th when he was rear-ended by the driver, who sped away without stopping.

Arechiga was taken to a nearby hospital suffering from severe, life-threatening injuries, where he died nine hours later.

Police are looking for two men in a dark-colored 2007 to 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe. Security video shows the driver was a Black man approximately 30 to 50-years-old, 5’08” to 5’10” tall, 200-250 pounds. He was wearing a dark jacket, blue pants with a white pattern on the left leg, a white Dodgers LA t-shirt, white tennis shoes and a black dew rag.

The passenger was described as a Black man, with black hair and a black beard, approximately 5’10” to 6′ tall, and 250 to 300 pounds; he was wearing a white hoodie with a dark logo and dark pants.

As always, there is a standing $50,000 reward for any fatal hit-and-run in the City of Los Angeles.

This is at least the 20th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the eighth that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; half of those have been in the City of Los Angeles.

It’s also the eighth fatal hit-and-run involving a SoCal bike rider this year.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Salvador Gonzalez Arechiga and his loved ones.

Thanks to LAPD Central Traffic Division for the heads-up.

 

 

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

Update: Bike-riding mom killed Sunday in apparent collateral damage crash in Lake Forest

June 14, 2023 / / 7 comments

This news from this past weekend just keeps getting worse.

Longtime Orange County bike advocate Bill Sellin has forwarded news that a woman was killed while riding her bike in Lake Forest Sunday morning, apparently the victim of an out-of-control driver.

While the initial reports appeared on Nextdoor, which is not always the most reliable source, the Orange County Sheriff’s department confirms a crash occurred just before 8 am on El Toro Road at Normandale Drive.

Sellin confirmed with Lake Forest officials that the victim of the crash was killed.

Meanwhile, a woman identifying herself as the victim’s daughter reports that the crash occurred when a driver apparently lost control, jumping a curb and hitting a light pole on one side of the street, then ricocheting across the street to hit the victim before crashing into another light pole on the opposite side of the street.

All of which implies the driver may have been traveling at an extreme rate of speed, even given the irrational 55 mph speed limit on the roadway.

Photos from the scene taken from Nextdoor show the mangled bike resting on the sidewalk in front of the smashed pickup; Sellin reports the location of the victim’s body was marked in front of her bike.

There’s no word on the victim’s name or age, though we can surmise her last name from her daughter’s post.

A person identifying themselves as her neighbor reports the victim was a mother of three.

There has been nothing in the news yet, and no official confirmation from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, which patrols Lake Forest, or the Coroner’s office; unfortunately, the OC Coroner no longer posts death notices online.

This is at least the 19th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware of in Orange County.

Update: The victim’s daughter has identified her as Sara Wheaton; sadly, she turned 49 the day she died. 

According to the daughter, Wheaton’s body was thrown 20 feet from her bike by the force of the impact. And neighbors who heard the crash don’t recall the sound of braking. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Sara Wheaton and all her family and loved ones. 

Thanks to Bill Sellin for doing all the legwork and tracking down the information for this story. 

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

42-year old Lake Elsinore man killed while riding bike in Canyon Lake collision Saturday night

June 12, 2023 / / Comments Off on 42-year old Lake Elsinore man killed while riding bike in Canyon Lake collision Saturday night

Evidently, this past weekend wasn’t as safe as it seemed.

News broke earlier Monday that a man was killed riding a bike in Riverside County’s Canyon Lake Saturday night.

According to NBC Palm Springs, the victim was riding at Railroad Canyon Road and Canyon Lake Drive when he was struck by a motorist around 9:50 pm.

The victim was later identified as 42-year old Lake Elsinore resident Kennan Ruiz.

A street view shows a painted bike lane in both directions on Railroad Canyon, but nothing on Canyon Lake Drive.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know at this time. There’s no word on how or why the crash happened, or whether the driver was held accountable in any way.

Anyone with information is urged to call Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Petersen at 951/245-3000.

This follows news that a Reseda father is on life support after he was struck by a driver while riding his bike to work Thursday morning.

This is at least the 18th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware of in Riverside County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Kennan Ruiz and all his loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Man may have died from medical emergency riding bike in Griffith Park Friday morning, or possibly while hiking

June 2, 2023 / / Comments Off on Man may have died from medical emergency riding bike in Griffith Park Friday morning, or possibly while hiking

A man died from an apparent medical emergency while riding his bike in Griffith Park Friday morning.

Or maybe not.

The victim was riding, or possibly hiking, on or near a trail at Vista Del Valley Drive around 8:40 am when he went into severe medical distress.

Paramedics responding to the 2600 block of North Commonwealth attempted to revive him, providing “intensive, advanced life-saving care.” But he was already beyond medical help and died at the scene.

The victim was identified only as a man around 50 years old.

One way or the other, it’s tragic news,  whether or not he was riding a bike.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , ,

23-year old man killed in South Park hit-and-run last month; police looking for silver 2008-2013 Mercedes

May 24, 2023 / / Comments Off on 23-year old man killed in South Park hit-and-run last month; police looking for silver 2008-2013 Mercedes

This is what keeps me up at night.

Too often, we may not learn about the things that happen on our streets until weeks later, if at all.

That’s what happened in this case, when a man riding a bike was left to die by a heartless coward in LA’s South Park neighborhood over a month ago.

And we only learned about it today.

According to a press release from the LAPD, a 23-year old man was riding west on 43rd Street at Main Street around 10:40 pm on Thursday, April 13th, when he was run down by a driver headed south on Main.

The driver fled south on Main without stopping, leaving the victim, identified as Iomer Samuel Cruz, fatally injured in the street.

There’s no description of the suspect; police are looking for a silver 2008-2013 Mercedes Benz C230 or C330.

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD Central Traffic Division Officer Balderas or Detective Campos at 213/833-3713; after hours or on weekends call the Central Traffic Division’s Watch Commander at 213/833-3746.

As always, there is a standing $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver.

You can find security cam video of the crash here. I’m not posting it because it shows the actual impact, so be sure you really want to see it before you click on the link.

This is at least the 18th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the seventh that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; just three of those have been in the City of Los Angeles.

It’s also the seventh fatal hit-and-run involving a SoCal bike rider this year.

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

 

 

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

53-year old San Diego father Paul Fox died from heatstroke suffered while mountain biking south of Palm Springs

May 16, 2023 / / 2 comments

Sad news from Palm Springs, where a San Diego father died from heatstroke earlier this month after mountain biking outside the city.

According to San Diego’s 10 News, Paul Fox, a 53-year old father of three from the city’s Del Cero neighborhood, met a friend at the Palm Canyon Epic Trail south of Palm Springs in late April for what was planned as a three-hour ride.

However, despite GPS, they took a wrong turn somewhere along the trail, and ran out of water as three hours turned into six in temperatures up to 105°F.

Fox reportedly stopped suddenly and stepped off his bike acting dazed and confused, before collapsing and rolling down a hill.

He died in the hospital May 9th from complications due to heatstroke.

Fox, who a friend described as kind, funny and brilliant, worked as a computer network security specialist, including a four-year stint at the White House in the mid-2000s.

He was a lifelong mountain biker.

A crowdfunding campaign to benefit his family has raised a little more than $9,300 of the whopping $1 million goal.

This is at least the 17th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware of in Riverside County.

And a reminder to always carry more water than you think you’ll need.

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

Bicyclist killed in Hawthorne hit-and-run, 21-year old driver arrested; 6th SoCal bike rider killed by hit-and-run drivers this year

April 29, 2023 / / One comment

Once again, a heartless coward has left an innocent victim riding a bicycle to die on a SoCal street.

CBS Los Angeles reports the victim was struck by a westbound driver on Rosecrans Ave at Cerise Ave around 8:45 Thursday night.

The victim died at the scene, despite the efforts of paramedics, and has not been publicly identified.

An anonymous caller alerted the police to the location of the driver’s car, a black late model Nissan SUV, less than a block away in an underground parking garage in the 14100 block of Cerise Avenue.

A street view shows a large apartment complex at that location, suggesting the 21-year old driver, who also has not been publicly identified, may have been arrested at his home, or visiting another person.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Hawthorne Police Traffic Bureau at 310/349-2701.

This is at least the 16th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the sixth that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

It’s also the sixth fatal hit-and-run involving a SoCal bike rider this year.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,
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