Ghost bike in memory of Sal Sahagun; photo by Danny Gamboa
Most bicycling collisions never make the news.
Even when they do, there’s seldom any follow-up. So we may never know if an injured rider made a full recovery or succumbed to his or her injuries days or weeks after the collision.
And no one other than a handful of people close to the victim will ever know.
That’s exactly what happened when a bike rider was critically injured in a collision with a big rig truck in Downey last month.
According to the Los Cerritos News, a 46-year old Whittier resident was hit while he was riding his bike at the intersection of Florence and Fairford Avenues around 8 am on Friday, April 25th. A satellite view shows a busy intersection leading to a freeway onramp, with heavy truck traffic visible in the photo.
No word on how the collision occurred; however, at that hour, he was most likely riding to work. The paper reports the driver was not charged, though the investigation was ongoing at the time.
Then no further word until someone reached out to the LACBC last week, asking for help in honoring a co-worker who had passed away recently after being injured in a collision on April 25th. However, they couldn’t find any information confirming the death, and reached out to me to see if I’d heard anything.
Sadly, that news came today, when a family member confirmed that Sal Sahagun has died of the injuries he suffered in that April 25th collision.
Hopefully, we’ll be able to get more details later.
This is the 42nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 17th in Los Angeles County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Sal Sahagun and all his family and loved ones.
Thanks to Colin Bogart for the heads-up.
