A 71-year old man riding a bicycle lost his life in Fountain Valley early Saturday morning, thanks to a drunken coward who didn’t have the decency stop.
Allegedly.
According to County News TV, police responding to reports of a crash found 71-year old Santa Ana resident Liem Bui lying on southbound Euclid Ave just north of Heil Ave, next to Mile Square Regional Park, around 5:39 this morning.
The Orange County Register reports he was dead when officers arrived.
The driver fled the scene, leaving Liem to die alone in the street.
Police identified the suspect vehicle, locating it in Westminster sometime later with 32-year-old Fountain Valley resident Amanda Martin still in the driver’s seat.
She was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence, felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
It’s not clear if she was driving at the time or had stopped, or whether she was awake or passed out behind the wheel.
She was being held on $100,000 bond.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Traffic Bureau of the Fountain Valley Police Department at 714/593-4481.
This is at least the fifth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first that I’m aware of in Orange County. Three of those deaths have been hit-and-runs.
Update: A Facebook post from the VeloViet Cycling Team indicates Liem Bui was a bike racer and coach in Vietnam, before coming to the US. Thanks to Christian for the heads-up.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Liem Bui and his loved ones.
