Apparently, last month isn’t done with us yet. And it ends with perhaps the worst news of all.
After a month that had already seen seven people lose their lives riding a bicycle in Southern California, you can add two more to the tragic toll.
And one wasn’t even born yet.
According to a crowdfunding campaign, 36-year old Regan Cole-Graham died after being struck by a driver while riding a bicycle with her husband and two kids this past Saturday.
She was seven months pregnant.
Her unborn daughter survived another day before dying in the NICU at UCLA Children’s Hospital on Sunday.
What appears to be an AI generated site offers information that appears to come from the police report, placing the crash around 6 pm on Pershing Drive in Playa del Rey. A mobile app places it around the corner at 451 E. Manchester Ave at 6:02 pm.
Meanwhile a witness on Reddit says the crash occurred directly in front of the Hacienda Playa restaurant on Pershing. 
According to the AI site above, Cole-Graham was pronounced dead on arrival after being taken to a hospital.
There’s no details on how the crash occurred, though the same site says she was riding an ebike. The driver remained at the scene.
Sadly, that’s exactly where bike lanes were installed in 2017 after a years-long community process, only to be removed following complaints from drivers used to zooming along the street.
It’s impossible to know whether this tragedy could have been prevented if the bike lanes were still there. But their removal will almost certainly mean Los Angeles will be liable for her death.
The GoFundMe describes Cole-Graham as “…a loving & devoted wife, a fierce & joyful mother, a hilarious & loyal sister, and a beautiful, fiery daughter.”
As of this writing, the site has raised more than $134,000 to pay for funeral expenses and help her husband and kids with their future, while the goal has been raised to $210,000.
These are the eighth and ninth bicycling fatalities that I’m aware of in Southern California this year, the fourth and fifth in Los Angeles County, and the second and third reported in the City of Los Angeles.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Regan Cole-Graham, her unborn baby, and all their family and loves ones.
Thanks to Joe, Richard, Oren and Madeline for their help in piecing this together.
