February 3, 2021 /
bikinginla / Comments Off on 73-year old man killed riding bike in Oxnard collision; 2nd bike-riding Oxnard septuagenarian killed in three weeks
For the second time in three weeks, someone has been killed riding a bicycle in Oxnard.
Somewhere south of East 5th Street, Ramirez allegedly swerved left into the path of a 49-year old woman driving in the left lane of the four lane, 55 mph roadway.
He died at the scene.
The driver stayed, and was not charged, though her truck was impounded as evidence.
No explanation was given for why Ramirez crossed the roadway, or why he apparently didn’t see the large black pickup speeding up on him.
January 18, 2021 /
bikinginla / Comments Off on Man riding bicycle killed in double Menifee crash, as 2nd driver leaves scene; 3rd fatal Riverside County bike crash this year
For the third time in just three days, a bike rider was killed in Southern California.
And for the third time, a driver left the scene — although police were quick to excuse it.
According to the Press-Enterprise, 43-year old Lake Elsinore resident Alex Herrera was crossing Highway 74 just west of Briggs Road in Menifee around 10:45 Saturday night, when he was struck by a westbound driver, flung onto the other side of the roadway, and run over by another driver headed east.
Herrera died at the scene before police could arrive.
The second driver kept going without stopping, but lost his license plate in the crash. Police were able to track him down and were quick to absolve him of responsibility, suggesting he may not have known he hit anyone.
Because evidently, it’s perfectly normal to keep driving after feeling a large, unexpected bump without stopping to see what the hell it was.
Like maybe another person, for instance.
Police said there was no sign drug or alcohol intoxication played a role in the crash, and neither driver was ticketed or arrested at the scene.
There’s no word on why Herrera was crossing the highway west of the intersection with Briggs, with no street lights or businesses to light the roadway.
There’s also no indication if he had lights on his bike that would have made him visible in the darkness.
This is at least the sixth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third that I’m aware of in Riverside County.
Drivers have left the scene in all but two of those deaths, including all three in Riverside County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Alex Herrera and his loved ones.
A 46-year old bike rider is dead, the innocent victim of a speeding carjacker trying to make his escape through Downtown Los Angeles Saturday morning.
Now police are looking for the car thief and killer, who simply walked away after a second crash.
According to KABC-7, the series of events started when a passing pedestrian asked a newspaper delivery driver for a ride on the 900 block of Wilshire Blvd. When the driver refused, the man jumped into the running pickup while the man was stocking a newsstand.
Unable to get back into the truck, the delivery driver jumped into the back as the man sped off towards DTLA, then wisely jumped out a few blocks later, tumbling to the ground.
Witnesses saw the carjacker careening through the streets, weaving from side to side at a high rate of speed while driving on the wrong side of the roadway.
After turning onto eastbound 7th Street, he slammed into a man who was riding east just before 7th and Olive Street.
However, according to the police flier, the victim riding against traffic in the westbound bike lane — which means the driver rear-ended him while all the way on wrong side of the street.
The victim landed on the hood of the truck, and was carried nearly 100 feet before being thrown off, then tumbled another 150 feet before coming to a rest at Hill Street, a full block from where he was hit.
Paramedics attempted without luck to revive him, before declaring Finley dead at the scene.
Meanwhile, the driver continued east on 7th until he crashed into a pair of vehicles and took off on foot, melting away on the Downtown streets.
Bizarrely, he was walking barefoot and carrying a steering wheel, presumably from the truck he stole.
He was described as a Black man around 5 foot 6 inches tall and 150 to 160 pounds, and may have suffered a head injury from hitting his head on the windshield.
The suspect was last seen wearing a white hoodie and black pants, after removing the blue hoodie he was originally wearing.
As always, there is a standing $50,000 reward for any fatal hit-and-run in the City of Los Angeles.
Anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD Detective Juan Campos at 213/833-3713, or e-mail hm at 31480@lapd.online. During weekends and off-hours, call 1-877/527-3247.
This is at least the fifth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County and the City of LA.
Three of those deaths have been the result of hit-and-runs.
“I still don’t even think it’s real. I feel like it’s a dream. Right now, it’s a nightmare, and I feel tomorrow I’m going to wake up and this day will never exist,” his daughter, Koi Finley, told ABC7.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Branden Finley and his loved ones.
Just over two weeks into the new year, a second bike rider has been killed in Riverside County, both the victims of hit-and-run drivers.
But at least this time, the killer was caught a few hours later.
According to My News LA, the victim was riding through the intersection of Goetz Road and Mapes Road in Perris around 8:30 pm Thursday when he was struck by a car driven by 28-year old Perris resident Nathan Craig Rogers.
The victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, died at the scene.
At last report, he was being held on $75,000 bond on suspicion of felony fatal hit-and-run and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence.
It’s unknown if drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision.
Sadly, California’s lenient hit-and-run laws mean Rogers is looking at just four years behind bars, with another year in county jail for the misdemeanor manslaughter charge.
And that’s only if the judge rules the sentences should run consecutively, rather than concurrently.
Anyone with information is urged to call Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Kiebach at 951/776-1099, or the Perris Station at 951-210-1000.
This is at least the 4th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 2nd that I’m aware of in Riverside County.
Half of those SoCal bicycling deaths have ben the result of hit-and-run drivers, both in Riverside County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.
The motorcyclist was riding east with three other motorcycle riders when he somehow slammed into the other man on the narrow two-lane road around 9:30 am today.
There’s no word on what may have caused the crash.
This is at least the 3rd bicycling fatality in Southern California already this year, and the first that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
Update: The victim has been identified as 40-year old Chula Vista resident Julius Cunanan; he leaves behind his wife and two young sons, one just a month old.
The video, which is disturbing to watch, shows a mangled mountain bike under the truck, along with the victim’s body covered in a shroud. So be warned before you click the link, because you may not want to see it.
This is at least the 2nd bicycling fatality in Southern California already this year, and the first that I’m aware of in Ventura County.
The suspect vehicle is described as a 2002 – 2008 Mini Cooper, with the driver’s side window and mirror missing, as well as several pieces of side trim.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Lin Tae Kim and his loved ones.
Roy Wallack wrote that bicycling would help you live to be 100.
Sadly, he didn’t make it.
The Irvine resident, author of Bike for Life: How to Ride to 100, was just 64 year old when he died following a crash on the Guadalasca Trail in Pt. Magu State Park Saturday morning.
According to the Ventura County Star, Wallack was riding with friends on the difficult trail when he fell around 9:20 am, although he had not been publicly identified yet in the original story.
The crash took place on the Guadalasca Trail, he said, which cuts through steep, technical terrain near the Backbone Trail. The cyclist, a man in his 60s, had reportedly been riding with friends when he crashed his bike and lost consciousness, Worthy said. The cyclist’s city of residence was not immediately known Saturday.
The man’s friends called for emergency medical assistance and performed CPR until the sheriff’s helicopter arrived with paramedics and a flight nurse. The crew continued life-saving measures but the cyclist did not survive and was pronounced dead at the scene, Worthy said.
And yes, he was wearing a helmet.
A former columnist for the LA Times, Wallack was a prolific writer, according to the Star.
A Google search shows he’s the author of at least eight other fitness books.
The Times describes Wallack as a avid hiker, runner and bicyclist who took part in the Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, as well as the 750-mile Paris-Brest-Paris bike tour.
Wallack’s work for The Times spanned barre classes, triathlons, kayaking, the L.A. Marathon and more. He penned a gear column for many years, keeping fitness fans in the loop about the hottest must-haves.
He began a 2016 piece: “Hiking the Grand Canyon was not on my bucket list. A marathon, yes. Bike 200 miles in a day, yes. Ironman triathlon, absolutely. But for some reason, a mere day hike, even in one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders, was never on my radar.”
Wallack ended up being won over by the 15-mile trek, describing it as “an otherworldly journey into a land before time” and “a true bucket-list adventure.”
The paper also describes his efforts to keep his 84-year old father active, despite being housebound by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The paper reports that he recently finished one last book, about Richard Long, the founder of GT Bicycles, who was killed in a collision with a truck while riding his motorcycle to a bike race in Big Bear in 1994.
Tributes were beginning to pour in as word of his death began to spread Sunday evening.
RIP Roy Wallack. You were always so fun to work with, your copy a joy to read, your passion for all things endurance and outdoor adventure inspiring. https://t.co/JsUrGnuTW0
RIP journo Roy Wallack who died earlier today after crashing his MTB in the Santa Monica mountains. We rode together each year at Press Camp in Utah. One year he gave me his book, “Bike for Life: How to Ride to 100 and Beyond.” He was 64. pic.twitter.com/5zkqM8nZhf
According to the paper, the victim was riding east on SR 76 when he was struck by the driver of a semi-truck traveling in the same direction.
No identification or description was given for either the victim or the driver.
The driver returned to the scene, which suggests he or she initially kept kept going. It’s possible they may not have known they hit someone at first if they sideswiped the victim.
Otherwise, the driver should have been aware of the impact.
A street view shows SR 73 is a divided highway with two lanes in each direction and a paved, painted shoulder, along with a right turn slip lane the victim would have had to navigate in order to stay on the highway.
This is at least the 65th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 11th that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
The driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Which should be a given, but sadly isn’t.
Sheriff’s deputies don’t think alcohol played a role in the crash.
Westbound Mission Gorge was closed for hours after the crash, suggesting that’s where the crash occurred; a street view shows a busy six lane divided highway with a double left turn lane and no shoulder.
Anyone with information is urged to call sheriff’s investigators at 858/565-5200.
This is at least the 64th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 10th that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all his loved ones.
