Tag Archive for San Bernardino County

58-year old Lucerne Valley killed riding bicycle in Hesperia crash Monday night

July 29, 2025 / / No comments

At least the driver stuck around this time.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, a 58-year old Lucerne Valley man was killed while riding his bike in Hesperia last night.

The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was run down from behind by a 22-year old Tesla driver while riding in the right lane of Main Street at Escondido Avenue in Hesperia around 10 pm Monday.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, the victim was riding in the traffic lane without lights on his bike.

Through preliminary investigation, it is believed the Tesla traveled west in the number two lane on Main Street, east of Escondido Avenue, while the bicyclist traveled in the middle of the number two lane without lights on. The driver of the Tesla saw the bicyclist too late and was unable to swerve out of the way due to other vehicles on the roadway. The driver struck the bicyclist, knocked him off the bicycle and into a nearby field. The driver pulled over and immediately called 911, and stayed on scene. The bicyclist sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

While the description sounds like it’s based primarily on the driver’s statement, a photo from the scene appears to show a mangled road bike on the side of the road, without any visible lights.

Police don’t believe drug or alcohol use played a role in the collision. There’s no word on whether speed was a factor; however, the posted speed limit is 55 mph on that section of Main, according to the Victorville Daily Press.

A collision at that speed is unlikely to have been survivable, regardless of any other factors.

Whether or not the street would have been lighted appears to depend on what side of Escondido the crash occurred on, since there are street lights and commercial buildings on the east side, and none on the west side.

There is also no sidewalk or paved shoulder on the west side that could have provided any degree of safety. Although the wide traffic lane raises the question of why the victim would be riding in the middle of the lane, rather than closer to the curb.

Anyone with information is urged to call San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy E. Harrison at 760/947-1500, or call anonymously at 800/782-7463.

This is at least the 28th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Fontana bike rider killed by alleged DUI driver; no word on identity of the victim

June 26, 2025 / / No comments

Police in Fontana allege a man got behind the wheel when he was too wasted to drive.

Now someone else is dead because of it.

According to the Daily Bulletin, the victim was struck by the driver a little after 11 pm this past Saturday, while riding a bicycle in the area around Ivy and Palmetto avenues.

The victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, died after being taken to the hospital.

The driver, identified as 31-year old Gilbert Perez, was booked on suspicion of DUI causing bodily injury. Which will likely now be upgraded to a vehicular manslaughter charge, at the very least.

Or murder, if he has a previous DUI conviction.

This is at least the 19th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones. 

You can read the story on MSN if you can’t access the Daily Bulletin story. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

14-year old boy killed in apparent solo ebike crash in Chino Hills, another teen sharing bike suffered minor injuries

April 10, 2025 / / Comments Off on 14-year old boy killed in apparent solo ebike crash in Chino Hills, another teen sharing bike suffered minor injuries

A teenaged boy was killed in what appears to be a solo ebike crash in Chino Hills Saturday evening, while another suffered minor injuries.

According to a Nixle alert from the San Bernardino Sheriff-Coroner, the kids, who have not been publicly identified, apparently crashed the electric bicycle they were sharing around 5:25 pm at Rock Springs Drive and Oakland Way.

The crash scene appears to be just past a curve at the base of a hill, on a residential street with bike lanes on either side.

A 14-year old boy died after being taken to Pomona Valley Medical Center. The other person, identified only as a juvenile, was treated at the scene and released.

The brief report says neither kid was wearing a bike helmet, even though that’s required for anyone under 18 riding a bicycle in California, electric or otherwise. However, there’s no suggestion that either teen suffered a head injury.

And yes, the report clearly states they were on a bicycle, rather than some other type of ebike.

This was at least the 12th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the second that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

At least four of those victims were riding ebikes.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Man riding bicycle killed by minivan driver in Victorville crash Tuesday night

March 12, 2025 / / Comments Off on Man riding bicycle killed by minivan driver in Victorville crash Tuesday night

It’s been a rough week for bike riders in the Inland Empire.

Just days after a man was killed riding a bicycle in Cabazon, another man was killed by a driver in Victorville Tuesday night.

According to the Victorville News Group, the victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, was crossing Highway 395 near Luna Road when he was struck by the driver of a minivan around 8:56 pm.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, next to his mangled bike.

A photo of the minivan suggests the victim was struck at a high rate of speed, with significant damage to the front end and windshield. A street view suggests the driver was probably traveling at highway speed.

And yes, the driver remained at the scene.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Victorville Police Department at 760/241-2911.

This was at least the ninth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , ,

38-year old man riding bicycle killed in Ontario DUI crash on Christmas Eve; driver identified as rookie LAPD officer

January 10, 2025 / / 2 comments

Once again, someone riding a bicycle was killed by a drunken hit-and-run driver in Southern California, and we didn’t learn about until weeks later.

Except this time there was a cop involved.

Allegedly.

According to the Los Angeles Times — the only source currently reporting the story — 38-year old Chino resident Fabio Cebreros was riding his bike on Bon View Ave in Ontario on Christmas Eve, when he was struck by an off-duty cop around 7:37 pm.

The driver was identified as 39-year old Aaron Kleibacker, a rookie officer with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division.

Cebreros was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries,

Kleibacker initially fled the scene before returning, although it isn’t clear if he turned himself in, or if he was recognized by a witness or identified some other way.

He reportedly cooperated with investigators, but failed a sobriety test, testing at over twice the legal limit.

Kleibacker was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, and released the next day. Charges are pending.

The Times reports Kleibacker appears to have joined the LAPD after serving with the Marines. An LAPD spokesperson confirmed that he still works for the department, although probationary officers can be fired outright for alleged misconduct.

There’s no word on how the crash occurred, or where it happened on Bon View; there’s also no information on how long Cebreros was hospitalized before he died.

We also don’t know how long it took Kleibacker to return following the crash, which could have an impact on whether he faces hit-and-run charges, in addition to vehicular manslaughter and — presumably — DUI counts.

This was at least the 56th bicycling fatality in Southern California last year, and the sixth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

Twenty of those deaths last year involved hit-and-run drivers.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Fabio Cebreros and his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , , , ,

World-class endurance cyclist and psychoanalyst Donna Orange dies days after hit by driver on Upland training ride

November 17, 2024 / / 14 comments

Once again, someone has been killed riding a bicycle in Southern California. And once again, it never made the news.

This time, in Upland.

And this time, the victim was a beloved member of the endurance cycling community.

According to world endurance cycling team BarrUltra, Donna Orange passed away after being struck by a driver while on a training ride.

She is described as a distinguished and groundbreaking psychoanalyst, a world-class cyclist, and an active member of the endurance cycling community, despite being well into her 80s. In fact, she competed in the 6-12-24 Hour World Time Trial Championships (WTTC) in Borrego Springs, California at the beginning of this month.

I’m told Orange was struck when she was traveling east on 16th Street at San Antonio Ave this Tuesday, after a driver headed west on 16th entered the intersection at the same time and left-hooked her while turning onto southbound San Antonio.

Which means there should be no question who was at fault. And it’s not her.

She reportedly died after being taken off life-support at the Pomona Valley Medical Center this weekend.

You can learn more about Orange in the post below.

This is at least the 50th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fifth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

How many more there are that we haven’t learned about remains an open question.

Correction: I originally misidentified the victim as Barbara Orange rather than Donna. I apologize for the mistake. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Donna Orange and her loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , , ,

45-year old Victorville resident killed by pickup driver while riding bicycle in the city Saturday evening

November 5, 2024 / / Comments Off on 45-year old Victorville resident killed by pickup driver while riding bicycle in the city Saturday evening

For the second time last week, someone riding a bicycle was killed in San Bernardino County.

The victim, identified as 45-year old Victorville resident Manuel Rivera, died after he was run down by the driver of a pickup truck in Victorville Saturday night.

Rivera was struck around 6:23 pm Saturday while riding on Mojave Drive, near Village Drive. He was declared dead after being taken to a local hospital.

The driver stuck around after the crash, and reportedly cooperated with the investigators.

As usual, there’s no word on how the crash occurred, or who may have been at fault. There’s also no word on whether the driver was ticketed or arrested.

Anyone with information is urged to call Deputy J. Stroik of the Victorville Police Department at 760/241-2911.

This is at least the 46th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Manuel Rivera and his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

50-year old man killed in DUI collateral damage crash while walking bicycle in Rialto; 2-year old boy suffers minor injuries

October 28, 2024 / / Comments Off on 50-year old man killed in DUI collateral damage crash while walking bicycle in Rialto; 2-year old boy suffers minor injuries

Another day, another bicyclist killed in the Inland Empire.

According to KTLA-5, a man walking his bicycle in Rialto was collateral damage in a crash between two drivers — including one who was under the influence.

“Preliminary information indicates the female driver of the Dodge Caravan was driving southbound on Riverside Avenue and was turning left to go east on Etiwanda and failed to yield, [leading] the black Audi to collide with the Caravan,” Sgt. Smith confirmed to KTLA. “[The collision] caused the Caravan to go onto the northeast corner of the sidewalk, striking the pedestrian.”

The collision occurred around 6:26 pm Sunday at the intersection of Etiwanda Ave and Riverside Ave in Rialto.

The victim, identified only as a 50-year old man, died after being taken to a hospital.

A two-year old boy who was riding in the Audi with his father was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, as was the 32-year old driver of the other vehicle; police planned to arrest her for DUI upon her release.

The station oddly notes that the victim’s bicycle did not appear to have suffered significant damage.

Just the person who had been walking it.

This is at least the 45th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Three dead in late night Victorville crash, including 57-year old man riding a bicycle and two people on a motorcycle

August 15, 2024 / / 2 comments

I really hoped SoCal drivers could manage tp avoid killing anyone while I recovered from shoulder surgery.

Apparently, I should have made the same wish for motorcyclists.

According to the Victorville Daily News, three people are dead following a crash between two people on a motorcycle and a man riding a bicycle.

The collision occurred at La Paz Drive and Valley Center Drive in Victorville just after 12:20 am today.

Emergency responders found a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a mangled mountain bike lying in the roadway, along with the three victims.

They all died at the scene, despite the efforts of paramedics. They were identified only as a 30-year old white man and a 38-year old woman man who had been on the motorcycle, and a 57-year old Black man riding the bicycle.

Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on how the crash occurred.

Anyone with information as urged to call the Victorville Police Department at  760/241-2911, or call anonymously at 800/782-7463.

This is at least the 33rd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the just the second that I’m aware this year in San Bernardino County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for all the victims and their loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Man dies 4 days after he was rear-ended on his bicycle in Apple Valley; victim identified as 54-year old Victor Cunanan

June 8, 2024 / / One comment

Earlier in the week, we mentioned that a man had suffered major injuries when he was struck by a driver in Apple Valley on Monday.

Sadly, he didn’t make it.

The Victor Valley Daily Press is reporting that 54-year old Apple Valley resident Victor Cunanan died from his injuries at Loma Linda University Medical Center on Friday.

Cunanan was riding east on Thunderbird Road at Wichita Road around 9:10 pm Monday, when he was rear-ended by an SUV driver traveling in the same direction at a high rate of speed.

The 36-year old driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

A message from his church the next day had asked for “fervent prayers” for Cunanan, as well as his wife and children.

The earlier story had said Cunanan was riding in the traffic lane when he was struck. However, that was not repeated in the second story reporting his death; there is a westbound bike lane on Thunderbird, but not headed east.

The crash remains under investigation. Any with information is urged to call the Apple Valley Station of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department at 760/240-7400, or Sheriff’s Dispatch number at 760/956-5001.

This is at least the 22nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Victor Cunanan and all his family and loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,
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