Ghost Bike for Philo Ragni; all photos by Danny Gamboa
There’s something seriously wrong when a kid can’t even ride his bike home from school.
According to KTLA-5, a 17-year old boy was struck and killed by a DWP truck Wednesday afternoon, just a block away from John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, where he was a student. Other sources give his age as 16.
The victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, was riding south on Woodley Ave at San Fernando Mission Blvd when he was hit the northbound truck, driven by an electrical worker for the department. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
There’s no word on how the collision occurred; however, since it happened at an intersection while they were traveling in opposite directions, it suggests that one or the other may have been turning onto San Fernando Mission.
The station reports there were several bikes lying on a corner of the intersection following the wreck, one with a mangled front wheel.
And yes, the DWP did offer a brief statement of sympathy.
This is the fourth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the second in Los Angeles County. It’s also the first in the City of Los Angeles since the first of the year.
Update: KNBC-4 reports the victim was a senior at the school, and had been riding with a group of fellow students. However, the story is not online yet.
Update 2: KACB-7 has identified the victim as 17-year old Philo Ragni.
According to the station, the LAPD said the DWP truck was headed north on Woodley when a group of kids crossed the street going west on San Fernando Mission; no word on who had the right of way.
However, police report that a Metro bus was driving by at the time of the collision, and may have captured the collision on video.
Update 3: KCBS-2 contradicts the KABC report, suggesting that Ragni and his friends were riding south on Woodley when he suddenly turned across the path of the truck. The station says Ragni, whose given name was Philomene, was a popular student who friends say was always happy, though troubled by the recent death of his mother.
The station also reports he was not wearing a helmet; whether or not that is relevant depends on just what injuries he suffered, and whether or not the collision would have been survivable with one.
And I neglected to include earlier that the driver remained on the scene and was cooperating with investigators; he passed a sobriety test at the scene. He is said to be devastated by what happened.
Adding to the tragedy, KTLA-5 says Ragni died on his little brother’s birthday.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Philo Ragni and his loved ones.
