That didn’t take long, either.
Just one day after the first Southern California bicycling death of the new year, a second rider was killed in a collision in Long Beach’s Wrigley neighborhood.
The victim, identified only as a 64-year old woman, died four hours after she was struck by a driver Thursday evening.
According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, the woman was riding north on Golden Avenue in Long Beach around 6 pm Thursday. She crossed the intersection at Willow Street on the green light, however, the light changed before she cleared the street.
The driver of an SUV accelerated through the intersection as the light turned green on Willow, striking the victim.
She was taken to a local hospital, where she died four hours later.
The driver remained at the scene, and was not suspected of being under the influence.
The question is why he failed to notice the victim riding her bike in the roadway directly in front of him, regardless of whether he had the green light.
This is the second bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first in Los Angeles County. It’s also at least the fourth bicycling death in Long Beach in the past year.
Update: The victim has been identified as 64-year old Long Beach resident Rhodora Roldan Bachillar.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Rhodora Roldan Bachillar and her loved ones.
