What is a human life worth?
About four sentences, evidently.
That’s all KABC-7 devoted to reporting that a man riding a bicycle was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Paramount Thursday night. According to the station, the victim, who was not publicly identified, was riding near the Rosecrans Boulevard onramp to the 710 Freeway around 11:40 pm Thursday.
Apparently, they mean Rosecrans Ave and the 710. Judging by the map, if the crash actually occurred in Paramount, that would mean the onramp to the northbound 710 from westbound Rosecrans.
There’s no word on how the crash occurred, or whether the victim died at the scene. Although the divided roadway means the driver was most likely turning right onto the freeway, and either struck the victim from behind, or right-crossed him as he was riding on the sidewalk.
There’s also no description of the heartless coward who drove away, or the suspect vehicle, and Sheriff’s investigators and the CHP say they don’t have any leads.
This is at least the 51st bicycling fatality that I’m aware of in Southern California this year, and the 17th we know about in Los Angeles County; this is also the third bicycling death in Southern California in the last three days.
At least 16 of those SoCal deaths have been hit-and-runs.
Update: The victim has been identified as 54-year old Melchor De la Torre.
My News LA reports De la Torre’s body was found on the onramp to the 710, but he may have been struck while riding on Rosecrans, and knocked onto the onramp.
There’s still no description of the suspect or the vehicle.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Melchor De la Torre and his loved ones, who deserved better.
