More bad news.
Less than two hours after a disabled bike rider was killed in Arleta, a woman was killed riding her bike in Huntington Beach.
The Orange County Register reports that the cyclist, who has not been publicly identified, was riding north on PCH just south of Seapoint Drive when she was rear-ended by a car around 4:40 am.
She was hit with enough force to knock her into the southbound lanes, and was taken to Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, where she died.
The driver stayed at the scene and called police; police said he did not appear to be under the influence, and was not arrested.
A satellite view shows a four lane divided highway with a wide marked shoulder where the victim likely would have been riding, although she could have been forced into the traffic lane by parked cars or some other obstruction.
No word on whether she had lights on her bike nearly two hours before sunrise.
This is the 47th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 10th in Orange County. It’s also the 13th bicycling fatality in Huntington Beach since December, 2010.
Update: The victim has been identified as 31-year old Long Beach resident Nadia Silva.
Update 2: According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Silva was crossing the southbound lanes of PCH from the center median when she was hit, and places the location as between Seapoint and Goldenwest Streets.
Police say speed doesn’t appear to be a factor. Which leaves the question of why Silva and the driver did not seem to see each other on the straight, unobstructed roadway.
My deepest sympathy for Nadia Silva and all her loved ones.
