The victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, died at the scene after being knocked onto the sidewalk.
There’s no word on whether the 69-year-old woman behind the wheel swerved into the bike lane, or if the victim left the bike lane for some reason. However, police don’t believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
The driver was hospitalized for non-life threatening medical care, though it was unclear if she was injured in the crash or was treated for some sort of health condition.
Anyone with information is urged to call Escondido Police Officer Pete McCollough at 760/839-4930.
This is at least the 56th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the sixth that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
My deepest prayers and sympathy for the victim and all his loved ones.
Jerry was a good man, he and Sue had started a new life together, he had his struggles but was working on overcoming them – he had a good heart, and was a friend to all who met him, he had a great smile that warmed a room.
So far, it’s raised just $100 of the $5,000 goal for funeral expenses.
This is at least the 45th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 13th that I’m aware of in San Diego County, which is already two to three times a normal year.
The paper reports that paramedics responding to the crash arrived to find the victim unconscious and bleeding from head injuries; he was taken to Palomar Medical Center, where he died.
Unfortunately, there’s no word on how the collision occurred. However, visibility may have been an issue since the crash occurred sometime around sundown.
A street view shows a bike lane with a brief separation on Ninth, beginning west of Spruce, on a three lane street with a 35 mph speed limit; the intersection is controlled only by a stop sign on Spruce. The street has two lanes in each direction with sharrows east of Spruce.
The driver, who also hasn’t been identified, was taken to a hospital with undisclosed medical issues after initially remaining at the scene.
This is at least the 14th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
Although someone should tell the U-T that the car did not hit the victim by itself; the story doesn’t even mention the driver until the final paragraph.
Mateo was riding west on Ninth when he was rear-ended by a driver following in the same direction, after allegedly swerving in front of the car.
However, it’s important to remember that, unless there were independent witnesses, we only have the driver’s word on how the crash occurred, since the victim isn’t around to share their side of the story.
A motorist can easily drift right, then assume the bike rider who suddenly appeared in front of them somehow darted into their path.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Diego Mateo and his loved ones.
The victim, identified only as a 21-year old Escondido resident, was riding north on Cedar Street when he reportedly rode through the stop sign, and into the path of a minivan driver headed east on Grand.
As always, though, the question is whether any independent witnesses actually saw him blow the stop, and whether it might have been possible for the driver to avoid him.
Anyone with information is urged to call Officer Mike Nelson of the Escondido Police Department’s Traffic Division at 760/839-4407.
This is at least the ninth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
That compares with just five deaths in the county for the entire year in 2019.
Connor, who is accused in the hit-and-run death of Kevin Lentz as he was riding with a group of fellow mountain bikers, was arrested for parole violations and multiple other charges just five days after the alleged head-on hit on Lentz.
Police arrested Connor on Thanksgiving Day as he was apparently driving drunk and stoned, with a loaded gun and a bag of meth in his pickup — along with his four-year old son.
Connor faces one count of each of the following charges: child cruelty resulting in injury or death, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of an unlisted handgun, carrying a loaded firearm in public, carrying a concealed weapon with a prior conviction, having a concealed weapon in a vehicle with a prior conviction, possession of a controlled substance while armed, use of controlled substance while possessing a firearm, crime against a person or property while having a previous conviction for drugs, DUI for alcohol or drugs, DUI for alcohol and drugs, and violating probation, according to (Escondido Police Department).
He also faces three counts of crime against a person or property while having a previous conviction for narcotics and four counts of possessing ammo while prohibited, according to EPD.
And that lengthy list doesn’t even include charges for killing Lentz and fleeing the scene.
— Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (@lacbc) December 5, 2019
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Speaking of the LACBC, don’t miss their annual open house tonight. It’s free for members; if you’re not one yet, you can sign up at the door.
Our Annual Open House is tomorrow night, Dec. 5, 6-9 PM. Join us for an evening of food and music and fun! Thank you to our generous sponsor @JimPocrass, in-kind donors, members and volunteers, for keeping our wheels spinning! Details & RSVP: https://t.co/q26099v0tB#bikeLApic.twitter.com/DqnlwtlHIE
— Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (@lacbc) December 4, 2019
I plan to be there to help them honor my friend, site sponsor and former fellow board member Jim Pocrass, so be sure to say hi.
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Robert Leone forwards news of another closure of Camp Pendleton to people on bicycles next week.
This is how a representative of the base described it.
Due to military operations bicycle access will be closed on Old Pacific Highway from San Onofre State Park to the Las Pulgas gate entrance. Bicyclists may ride on the I-5 shoulder during the indicated days of the Old Pacific Highway closure.
Closure time: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
When: Daily, from December 9-13
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Turns out our means of transportation is far more efficient than anything else. Including those mice and lemmings in cars.
BREAKING: When it comes to how things get around, nothing that nature or man has designed is more efficient than a person on a bicycle. Don’t believe me? It’s science, from @sciam. HT @CyclingSurgeon
As someone who has stuck his feet in his mouth so many times I now wear favored socks, I can safely say when everyone thinks you got it wrong, chances are it’s your fault.
Mountain View has prohibited parking RVs in bike lanes; the ACLU finds that “disturbing.” Yes, people who live in RVs need a place to park them, but bike lanes have no value, and offer limited safety, if no one can actually ride in them.
Portland will now require larger buildings to include a bike room. Even though bike thieves love them; if they’re not monitored 24/7, it’s just an invitation to steal multiple bikes at once.
Reports indicated he was headed south on the narrow street with a group of other riders when he was hit head-on by the driver of a dark colored Toyota sedan, who continued without stopping.
The victim, identified only as a 36-year old Vista resident, died at the scene before rescuers could arrive.
More bad news, this time from North San Diego County.
According to the Union-Tribune, a bike rider in his 40’s has died following a wreck in unincorporated Escondido. The Times of San Diego lists his age as 47.
The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was riding south on Mesa Rock Road north Windsong Lane just before 7 pm yesterday when he was struck by a Jeep Cherokee traveling in the same direction.
He was taken to Palomar Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The 26-year old driver remained at the scene. The U-T reports it’s not yet known if drugs or alcohol were factors, or how fast the SUV was traveling.
A satellite view shows a two-lane road with no visible turning points, increasing the likelihood that it was a rear-end collision.
This is the fifth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first in San Diego County. That compares with 17 in SoCal this time last year.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.
What started out as a very good month on SoCal streets has turned bloody for area cyclists.
After going nearly four full weeks without a fatal collision — and yes, that’s good for the heavily populated Southern California region that averages over one bike death a week — three riders have died in the last 10 days.
The latest is a 79-year old Escondido man who apparently died in a solo collision.
According to the North County Times, the rider, who has not yet been publicly identified, was found along the 400 block of East Mission Avenue in Escondido. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Union-Tribune’s Sign On San Diego website reports that the victim was not wearing a helmet, and did not have lights on his bike. In this case, the lack of a helmet is relevant because this appears to be exactly the sort of slow speed impact that helmets were designed to protect against.
The cause of his fall is unknown; however, police report that no other vehicles were involved.
Of course, it is entirely possible for a car to cause a crash, without leaving any sign, by cutting off a rider or passing too closely and causing the victim to lose control of his bike.
Unless a witness unexpectedly turns up, it’s unlikely we’ll ever know. But this could be exactly the sort of situation that SB 910, the 3feet2pass bill that’s currently sitting on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature, is designed to prevent.
This is the 54th confirmed traffic-related death in Southern California this year, and the 11th in San Diego County. That compares to an average of just under seven deaths each year in the San Diego area, and is just one below the 55 deaths recorded in the seven county SoCal region in each of the last two years currently on record.
It’s also the 5th fatal solo bike collision this year.
Update: The victim has been identified as Jerzy Nowak of Escondido; San Diego’s 10 News reports that there were witnesses who saw him fall, and confirm that no other vehicles were involved.
And the death last week of popular cyclist and musician Alan Deane has been ruled accidental by the coroner’s office. What effect that will have on the police investigation remains to be seen.
Oddly, for someone whose death brought forth such an outpouring of grief, police have been unable to find Deane’s last known address.
Maybe you know where he was living?
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Of course, it’s not just Pasadena. Or Escondido, for that matter.
KABC-7 reports that a 15-year old bike rider was injured when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver on the 5500 block of North Victoria Avenue in Highland on Monday afternoon. He was taken to the hospital with a head injury; authorities are looking for the driver of a black, 1980s pickup truck.
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Finally, I’ve gotten word that Jeffrey Ray Adams, the driver accused of intentionally cutting off a cyclist in Santa Monica — then ranting about it in a video captured by the victim — missed a court appearance on Monday. As a result, I’m told that a felony bench warrant has been issued for failing to appear.
However, reports that the case has been upgraded to a felony charge appear to be incorrect. According to cyclist/attorney Dj Wheels, the District Attorney’s office still reports that the case has been referred to the Santa Monica City Attorney for misdemeanor filing, while the SaMo CA says the case is still under evaluation.
As he notes, however, it’s always possible that neither of their computer systems have been updated yet. We’ll check back in a few days.
