Once again, someone riding a bicycle was killed by a drunken hit-and-run driver in Southern California, and we didn’t learn about until weeks later.
Except this time there was a cop involved.
Allegedly.
According to the Los Angeles Times — the only source currently reporting the story — 38-year old Chino resident Fabio Cebreros was riding his bike on Bon View Ave in Ontario on Christmas Eve, when he was struck by an off-duty cop around 7:37 pm.
The driver was identified as 39-year old Aaron Kleibacker, a rookie officer with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division.
Cebreros was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries,
Kleibacker initially fled the scene before returning, although it isn’t clear if he turned himself in, or if he was recognized by a witness or identified some other way.
He reportedly cooperated with investigators, but failed a sobriety test, testing at over twice the legal limit.
Kleibacker was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, and released the next day. Charges are pending.
The Times reports Kleibacker appears to have joined the LAPD after serving with the Marines. An LAPD spokesperson confirmed that he still works for the department, although probationary officers can be fired outright for alleged misconduct.
There’s no word on how the crash occurred, or where it happened on Bon View; there’s also no information on how long Cebreros was hospitalized before he died.
We also don’t know how long it took Kleibacker to return following the crash, which could have an impact on whether he faces hit-and-run charges, in addition to vehicular manslaughter and — presumably — DUI counts.
This was at least the 56th bicycling fatality in Southern California last year, and the sixth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.
Twenty of those deaths last year involved hit-and-run drivers.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Fabio Cebreros and his loved ones.
