Tag Archive for bicycling fatality

70-year old man riding bicycle killed by 92-year old driver in San Diego collision, 10th San Diego County bike death this year

September 21, 2024 / / Comments Off on 70-year old man riding bicycle killed by 92-year old driver in San Diego collision, 10th San Diego County bike death this year

Enough, already.

For the third time in just the last five days, someone has been killed riding a bicycle in Southern California.

And this time, it’s clear there was nothing victim could have done to avoid it.

San Diego’s Fox 5 is reporting that a 70-year old man was killed when he was left-crossed by a 92-year old driver in the city’s Roseville/Fleet Ridge neighborhood Saturday afternoon.

The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was riding east on Evergreen Street at Cañon Street around 2:38 pm, when the woman turned left into his path. He hit her right rear door, and died after being taken to a local hospital.

The driver remained at the scene and was not injured.

A crash like this should raise the issue of how old is too old to drive. But sadly, it probably won’t.

Anyone with more information is urged to call the San Diego Police Department at 888/580-8477.

This is at least the 39th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the tenth that I’m aware of in San Diego County.

That’s more than one every month.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

93-year old man killed riding his bike in Westminster; ninth Orange County bike death in nine months

September 21, 2024 / / 2 comments

More bad news while I was out of commission this week.

Multiple sources are reporting that a 93-year old man was killed by a driver while riding his bike in Westminster.

Or maybe he was 92, and from Fountain Valley.

The victim was struck around 4:15 pm while riding at Newland Street and Bolsa Ave.

The man, who has not been publicly identified, was pronounced dead at the scene, despite the efforts of paramedics.

For once, the driver stuck around afterwards. Westminster police said drugs or alcohol didn’t appear to play a role in the crash.

There’s no word on how the crash occurred, or who may have been at fault. Except that anyone who can still ride a bicycle at that age deserved better.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Westminster Police watch commander at 714/548-3767.

This is at least the 38th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and ninth that I’m aware of in Orange County — a rate of one every month.

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

Thanks to Arthur W. Bauer for the heads-up. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Update: Man riding bicycle killed by two hit-and-run drivers in Northridge; nearly 40% of all 2024 SoCal bike deaths hit-and-runs

September 21, 2024 / / 12 comments

Once again, a heartless coward left a helpless bike rider lying injured in the street for someone else to kill.

And someone did.

And that one fled the scene, too.

Multiple sources are reporting that a person on a bicycle, publicly identified only as a man in his early 50s, was struck from behind by the driver of a gray Honda around 9:15 pm Thursday on Lindley Ave near Napa Street in LA’s Northridge neighborhood.

He was thrown into the street, landing back in the right lane, where he was hit again by the driver of a gray pickup.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both drivers fled the scene without stopping to render aid or identify themselves, as required by law.

Witnesses reported that several vehicles had struck the victim, but video from the scene showed only two drivers actually hit him, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

Anyone with information is urged to call the LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division at 818/644-8025 or 818/644-8117, or call 877/527-3247 after hours or on the weekend.

As always, there is a standing $50,000 reward for any fatal hit-and-run in the City of Los Angeles, which presumably would apply to information leading to the conviction of either of these drivers.

This is at least the 37th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 11th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also the sixth that we know about in the City of Los Angeles.

Fourteen of those SoCal deaths — over 38% — have now come at the hands of heartless cowards who didn’t have the basic human decency to stick around afterward.

According to the Los Angeles Times, nearly one third of all traffic deaths in Los Angeles last year were hit-and-runs; no word on how many of those drivers were eventually arrested and charged, let alone convicted.

Update: The following was posted to Nextdoor in Northridge Village on Friday. 

Did anyone last night after 9 pm possibly see a man on a bike get killed by a hit and run driver near Lindley at Parthenia? That was my friend Dan. They didn’t stop. He was coming back from the Dollar store. He was a father and son and a good friend. He was on his bike. Please if anyone saw anything or knows anything. At least he deserves some justice. Just to hit him and leave him to die is too much.

Update 2: The victim has been identified as Danny Oerlemans. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Danny Oerlemans and his loved ones.

Thanks to Glenn Bailey for the heads-up. 

 

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

Woman riding bicycle killed in Camarillo collision, almost no details available — except what she wasn’t wearing

September 6, 2024 / / Comments Off on Woman riding bicycle killed in Camarillo collision, almost no details available — except what she wasn’t wearing

A woman was killed riding her bike in Camarillo Friday afternoon.

But all we know about her right now is what wasn’t on her head.

According to the Ventura County Star, the victim was struck by the driver of cargo van shortly before 2:10 pm, at the intersection of Adolfo and Santa Rosa roads.

She was taken to Los Robles Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know right now. No word on how the crash occurred, or who may have been at fault.

Only that sheriff’s deputies thought it was important to mention that the victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, wasn’t wearing a helmet. Which only matters if she died of a head injury, or if the crash might have somehow been survivable with one.

This is at least the 36th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fifth that I’m aware of in Ventura County.

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

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , ,

Update: Man riding BMX on sidewalk killed by wrong-way, hit-and-run driver in South LA’s Florence-Firestone neighborhood

August 28, 2024 / / Comments Off on Update: Man riding BMX on sidewalk killed by wrong-way, hit-and-run driver in South LA’s Florence-Firestone neighborhood

Nope.

Nothing suspicious here.

A man was struck and killed by a wrong-way, hit-and-run driver while riding his bike on a South LA sidewalk early Thursday morning.

According to Fox-11, the man was riding on the 7900 block of Alameda Street in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood just after 1 am Thursday, when an unknown driver jumped the curb on the opposite side of the roadway, traveling against traffic, and striking the victim on the sidewalk.

The driver sped off following the crash, leaving the victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, to die at the scene.

My News LA places the location at 7927 Alameda.

Video from Fox-11 shows the victim’s blurred body lying on the sidewalk, next to his backpack and cellphone, with his BMX bike in the street nearby.

There’s no description of the suspect vehicle at this time, let alone the person behind the wheel.

But considering that the driver struck someone on a raised sidewalk, on the opposite side of a two-way street, it suggests they may have lost control at high rate of speed, or while driving distracted or under the influence.

Or that the crash may have been intentional.

Hopefully we’ll learn more soon.

This is at least the 35th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the tenth that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

Thirteen of those SoCal deaths have come at the hands of heartless cowards who didn’t have the basic human decency to stick around afterward.

Update: The victim has been identified as 37-year old Julio Castellon, while the location has been corrected to be the Florence-Graham neighborhood of South LA. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Julio Castellon and all his loved ones.

 

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

61-year old man dies 3 weeks after he was struck by a driver while riding his bike in Irvine; police blame the victim

August 24, 2024 / / 4 comments

Too often when someone is injured while riding a bicycle, we never hear any more about it.

This time we did. But the news wasn’t good.

According to multiple, virtually identical news reports, 61-year old Scott Andrew Morris died three weeks to the day after suffering a head injury in an Irvine collision earlier this month.

Morris was riding his beach cruiser north on MacArthur Blvd, in the onramp to the 405 Freeway, around 1:20 pm on Thursday, August 1st, when police say he suddenly turned to the left, crashing his bike into the passenger door and mirror of a massive Chevy Suburban SUV.

He fell to the ground, striking his head, and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died on Thursday.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

Morris was not wearing a helmet. Which is worth noting this time, since he apparently died of a head injury; however, we don’t know how fast the SUV was going, or whether the crash would have been survivable with or without one.

Although another possible explanation for how the collision unfolded is that Morris was forced to ride across a dangerous slip lane designed for high speeds, with no bike infrastructure or safety accommodations of any kind. And was sideswiped by the driver, who either didn’t see him or was trying to get around his bike as Morris tried to make his way across.

Something that could be supported by damage to the Suburban’s passenger-side mirror, which would have likely hit Morris first if the driver struck him, rather than the other way around.

The question is whether there were independent witnesses to the crash, or any video evidence, or if investigators simply took the driver’s word for it, since Morris may have been unable to give his version of events.

Anyone with information is urged to call Irvine Police detectives at 949/724-7024.

This is at least the 34th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the eighth that I’m aware of in Orange County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Scott Andrew Morris and all his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Three dead in late night Victorville crash, including 57-year old man riding a bicycle and two people on a motorcycle

August 15, 2024 / / 2 comments

I really hoped SoCal drivers could manage tp avoid killing anyone while I recovered from shoulder surgery.

Apparently, I should have made the same wish for motorcyclists.

According to the Victorville Daily News, three people are dead following a crash between two people on a motorcycle and a man riding a bicycle.

The collision occurred at La Paz Drive and Valley Center Drive in Victorville just after 12:20 am today.

Emergency responders found a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a mangled mountain bike lying in the roadway, along with the three victims.

They all died at the scene, despite the efforts of paramedics. They were identified only as a 30-year old white man and a 38-year old woman man who had been on the motorcycle, and a 57-year old Black man riding the bicycle.

Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on how the crash occurred.

Anyone with information as urged to call the Victorville Police Department at  760/241-2911, or call anonymously at 800/782-7463.

This is at least the 33rd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the just the second that I’m aware this year in San Bernardino County.

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

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Breaking news: Man riding bicycle killed in Hyde Park hit-and-run; 12th SoCal bike rider killed by hit-and-run drivers this year

August 3, 2024 / / Comments Off on Breaking news: Man riding bicycle killed in Hyde Park hit-and-run; 12th SoCal bike rider killed by hit-and-run drivers this year

Yet another Southern California bike rider has been killed by a heartless hit-and-run driver.

KABC-7 is reporting that the victim was already dead by the time police arrived following the crash at W. 63rd Street near Overhill Drive in the Hyde Park neighborhood of South Los Angeles, just before noon Saturday.

He was identified only as a man in his 40s. His killer was apparently nowhere to be found.

Unfortunately, there’s no word at this time just how the crash happened, or any description of the driver or suspect vehicle. Hopefully we’ll learn more soon.

This is at least the 32nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the ninth that I’m aware this year in Los Angeles County; it’s also just the fifth in the City of Los Angeles — at least that we know about.

Twelve of those SoCal deaths have been the victims of heartless cowards who didn’t have the basic human decency to stick around afterward.

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

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

58-year old bike rider killed in Camarillo hit-and-run during police chase Saturday; medical examiner says it’s an “oopsie”

July 31, 2024 / / 7 comments

You’ve got to be kidding.

A man riding a bicycle was killed by an armed robber fleeing from police in Camarillo on Saturday — something which could reasonably be expected to result in a murder charge.

Except the Ventura County medical examiner said it was just an “oopsie.”

You know, big harm, no foul.

While this site was down for the last few days, news broke that the victim was killed, and several other people injured in a separate collision, when they were struck by the robber as he tried to escape the cops in an SUV shortly after 4 pm.

Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies began chasing the alleged robber, identified as 21-year-old Makare Toliver of Lancaster, and his partner after they reportedly stole a gun from a man at the Good Nite Inn on Ventura Boulevard.

Toliver initially yielded to the cops after pausing at a gas station, before taking off again and running down the victim as he rode on Central Ave between Beardsley Road and Santa Clara Ave.

The victim, later identified as 58-year old Ventura resident Robert Pierret, died after being taken to a local hospital.

There’s no word at this time on just how the crash occurred.

Toliver continued without stopping until he crashed into another car, injuring a number of people in that car, and was arrested at gunpoint along with another man.

Fortunately, none of those victims were seriously injured.

Toliver was booked on suspicion of armed robbery, as well as evasion of law enforcement and second-degree murder.

However, the murder charge was dropped after the medical examiner inexplicably ruled Pierret’s death an accident, explaining that traffic deaths are usually considered accidents “unless there is some unusual circumstance.”

Apparently, killing someone while evading police after robbing someone is perfectly normal in Ventura County.

Instead, Toliver was charged with two counts of second degree robbery, evading an officer causing death, fleeing the scene of an accident aausing death, grand theft of a firearm, and assault with a semi-automatic firearm, along with a whopping 21 special allegations.

He pled not guilty Tuesday to all charges.

The other man, also from Lancaster, was released on bail without formal charges.

This is at least the 31st bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware this year in Ventura County.

Eleven of those deaths have been hit-and-runs.

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

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

Five-year old Jacob Ramirez dead following Garden Grove DUI hit-and-run; his father and sister remain in comas

July 16, 2024 / / 2 comments

I really didn’t want to write this one.

For over a week now, we’ve followed the story of the Garden Grove family who  were run down by an allegedly drunken hit-and-run driver as the parents rode their bikes, towing their children behind in child trailers.

The crash left the father and two of the kids critically injured, while the mother and their eight-month old baby were hospitalized in stable condition, and released a few days later.

However, the news about their five-year old son, Jacob Ramirez, continued to get worse; by Friday, we learned he had been declared brain dead.

Now KABC-7 is reporting that Jacob has been discontinued from life support.

The crash occurred shortly after 7:30 pm on Sunday, July 7th, on the 12300 block of Haster Street near Twin Tree Lane, when they were apparently run down from behind by Santa Ana resident Ceferino Ascencion Ramos.

Ramos fled the scene, but was arrested shortly later after he was followed by a witness to the crash.

He reportedly had a .22 blood alcohol level at the time of his arrest — nearly three times the .08 legal limit. The station reports he was on his way to buy more beer at an Anaheim liquor store when he slammed into the family.

He has been charged with felony counts of hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury, failing to stop at a hit-and-run accident with injury, and driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, with sentencing enhancements for leaving a victim comatose or paralyzed and inflicting great bodily injury.

More charges will be pending now, including a likely murder charge if Ramos has a previous DUI on his record.

It’s also possible that the news could get worse.

The story reports that Jacob’s father, 27-year old Angel Hernandez Mejia and his seven-year old sister remain in comas over a week after the crash.

A crowdfunding campaign for the family has raised over $64,000 of the $100,000 goal, though it’s likely they’ll need a lot more than that before this is over.

This is at least the 29th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the seventh that I’m aware of in Orange County.

It’s also worth noting that reports have indicated none of the family members were wearing bike helmets, which are legally required for children under 18.

However, there’s no way to know whether that would have been enough to prevent their injuries in this collision.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Jacob Ramirez and all his family and loved ones. 

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