Bad news doesn’t always make the news right away. And sometimes, the police point the finger the wrong way.
That appears to be the case here, where a bike rider was killed in Burbank Friday afternoon.
According to the Burbank Leader, 74-year old Jin Soo Oh was riding east on Empire Ave around 2:35 pm when he was hit by a car turning right onto Westbound Empire from southbound Frederick Street.
He was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he died a short time later.
The driver, who remained at the scene, was not cited.
Based on the extremely limited description, it appears Oh may have been riding against traffic on the wrong side of the street. It’s also possible that he was actually on the sidewalk and attempting to cross Frederick.
However, instead of blaming the victim for riding the wrong way, or the driver for not seeing him, Burbank police appear to be placing the blame on Oh’s lack of a helmet. Which wouldn’t matter if he hadn’t been hit by a car.
And whether it matters at all depends on whether Oh’s injuries would have been survivable, with or without one.
This is the 12th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the ninth in Los Angeles County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Jin Soo Oh and all his family.
