Ghost bikes come in children’s sizes, too.
We mentioned Friday that an eight-year old boy was seriously injured when he was struck by a pickup driver in Coto de Caza Thursday morning.
Now we’ve learned that the boy was taken off life support Saturday afternoon.
Eight-year old Bradley Rofer was walking his bicycle through a crosswalk on his way to school, with members of his family watching, when he was run down at 7:25 am.
He was rushed to Mission Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Bradley was crossing Coto de Caza Drive at Oso Parkway when he was struck by the driver of an older Ford 150 pickup turning left from Oso onto Coto de Caza; it was his first day riding his bike to school.
This is how The Orange County Register described it.
It was supposed to be a fun day — Bradley was going to ride his bike to school for the first time. He’d learned proper bike safety rules and would be wearing a helmet. His family would be watching and cheering him on. He was ready.
Eight-year-old Bradley Rofer was used to impressing people in his Coto de Caza neighborhood. Riding his bike solo, starting a business that raised money for children with cancer, reading a 300-page plus Harry Potter book at age 7 — those were normal things for the Wagon Wheel Elementary School student.
According to his mother, Bradley was doing everything right when he was hit, including wearing his bike helmet, which firefighters initially credited with preventing more serious injuries.
The driver, identified only as a 53-year old Tustin man, remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. There’s no word on why he couldn’t see a boy walking his bike in a clearly marked crosswalk.
There was no crossing guard at the site when Bradley was struck, 20 minutes before children were expected at the school.
His mother broke the news on Facebook.
A crowdfunding campaign to assist with funeral costs and other expenses has raised over $23,000 of the $40,000 goal.
This is at least the 63rd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 14th that I’m aware of in Orange County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Bradley Rofer and all his family and loved ones.
Thanks to William Sellin for the heads-up.
