Tag Archive for San Bernardino County

66-year old man killed riding bicycle in Apple Valley collision; 2nd fatal San Bernardino County bike crash in two days

More bad news, just in time for the holidays.

The Victor Valley News Group is reporting that a man was killed riding his bicycle in Apple Valley Tuesday evening.

Although judging from the headline, they seem as concerned with the effect on traffic as the loss of a human life.

The victim, identified as 66-year old Apple Valley resident Gerald Duncan, was crossing Navajo Road north of Ottawa Road when he was struck by the driver of a southbound pickup around 5:48 pm.

He died at the scene.

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

Police appeared to blame Duncan for his dark clothing, rather than the 50 mph speed limit shown in the photo right next to his mangled bike. Or the single street light on the far side of the intersection.

Anyone with any information is urged to call San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy G. Dominguez or Deputy T. Arlotti at 760/240-7400, or Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760/956-5001.

This is at least the 71st bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 11th that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

He was also the second bicyclist killed in the county in less than 48 hours.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Gerald Duncan and his loved ones.

Woman riding bicycle killed in Colton collision; at least the 70th SoCal bike rider killed this year

This year just keeps getting worse.

The latest bad news comes from Colton, where a woman was killed riding her bike Sunday evening.

According to a minimalist report from the Fontana Herald, the victim was struck by a driver near Santo Antonio Drive and Washington Street at 7:10 pm Sunday.

She died at the scene. No identification has been released at this time.

The driver remained at the scene following the crash, and reportedly cooperated with investigators. However, no information was given about the driver, and there’s no word on how the crash occurred at this time.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know right now.

Anyone with any information is urged to call Officer Villalobos of the Colton Police Department at 909/370-5000.

This is at least the 70th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the tenth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

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

67-year old Eugene Arayata killed riding bike in rear-end Hesperia collision; 8th SoCal bike rider killed in 10 days

There seems to be no end to the recent carnage on the mean streets of Southern California.

For the eighth time in just ten days, someone was killed by a driver while riding a bike, this time in Hesperia Thursday evening.

According to the Victor Valley News Group, a man identified as 67-year old Hesperia resident Eugenio R. “Eugene” Arayata was riding his bike just three blocks from his home when he was run down from behind on Cedar Street at Long View Avenue.

The newspaper places the time of the crash at around 5:30 pm on Thursday, October 12th.

Arayata was riding next to the curb when the westbound driver apparently drifted over to the right to strike him, throwing Arayata several feet through the air.

He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, where he died sometime later.

The driver, who was not publicly identified, remained at the scene, the windshield of his Lexus shattered.

An earlier story shows the remains of Arayata’s bicycle crumpled in the gutter, a green shopping bag dangling to the street, as a police investigator photographs it.

A nearby resident complained about speeding on Cedar, noting the lack of painted lane markers on the narrow residential street contribute to drivers traveling all over the roadway. However, there is nothing to indicate at this time that the driver was speeding at the time of the crash.

According to family members, Arayata had retired just three months earlier, but continued working to pay property taxes on his home of 20 years, and loved riding his bike around the town.

It’s unclear if he was riding home from work when he was killed.

This is at least the 43rd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the ninth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

Just ten days ago, that total stood at just 35 for the seven county region, exceptionally low for this late in the year.

But SoCal drivers seem to be making up for lost time.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Eugenio R. “Eugene” Arayata and his loved ones.

Update: Suspect still at large after man riding bike killed in Rialto hit-and-run; 15th SoCal bike rider killed by hit-and-run drivers this year

The recent carnage on SoCal streets has continued unabated, marking five people killed riding bicycles in just the last six days.

And far too many of those deaths have come at the hands of hit-and-run drivers.

Including a man killed by a heartless coward who fled the scene in Rialto Saturday night.

According to the San Bernardino Sun, the victim was riding south in the second lane of Riverside Ave, approaching Santa Ana Ave, around 7 pm when he was run down from behind by a driver in a Hyundai sedan.

The victim, described only as a man in his 60s, died at the scene.

Police found the car abandoned nearby in Bloomington, and issued an arrest warrant for 46-year-old San Bernardino resident Santos Lopez-Rosales on suspicion of hit-and-run.

As of tonight, he was still on the run.

A street view shows a highway with two lanes in each direction, with a 50 mph speed limit and a complete lack of bicycling infrastructure.

Anyone who may have information about the crash, or the whereabouts of Santos Lopez-Rosales, is urged to call Rialto Police Traffic Sergeant Dan Smith at 909/644-6025.

This is at least the 39th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the eighth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

It’s also at least the 15th fatal hit-and-run involving someone on a bicycle since the first of the year, and the third since Wednesday.

Update: The victim’s family has identified him as 65-year old Leopoldo Mondragon, an Orange County resident who lived and worked in Rialto during the week to provide for his family. 

The father of six was on his way home from work on his bicycle when he was run down from behind, and left to die alone in the street. 

Lopez-Rosales still remained at large as of Tuesday night.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Leopoldo Mondragon and his family and loved ones.

Update: Bruce Elliott, captain of Don’s Race Team, killed in Mentone collision Saturday; 2nd area bike death in two days

Sometimes it’s just bad news on top of bad news.

And this one is going to hit a lot of people very hard.

I’ve just gotten confirmation that there was, in fact, a second bicyclist killed in the Highland/Mentone area over the weekend.

The CHP reports that a bike rider was killed by the driver of a Chevy SUV on SR-38 and Garnet Street in Mentone around 9:35 am Saturday.

He died at the scene.

I’m told the victim was well-known cycling coach Bruce Elliott of Big Wheel Coaching and Don’s Race Team, though that has not been officially confirmed.

Elliott was reportedly on a group training ride at the time of the crash; no other details are available at this time.

His death came just 13 hours after, and less then a dozen miles from where a 68-year old man was killed crossing a street in Highland on his bike Friday night.

He was also the third person killed riding a bike in Southern California in less than 24 hours, following another fatal crash in Hawthorne on Saturday.

This is at least the 30th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the seventh that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

This has got to stop.

Update: Commenter GregW reports that he saw the crash on Saturday.

I was a first hand witness to the fatal crash in Mentone on Saturday. An SUV struck the cyclist head-on after entering into their oncoming left turn lane. I was with the cyclist until emergency services arrived. If anyone has more information regarding the man’s identity I’d like to get in contact with his family to give my condolences.

Update 2: The San Bernardino County Coroner confirmed the victim was 55-year old Redlands resident William Bruce Elliott, who was pronounced dead at 10:21 am at Loma Linda University Medical Center, despite the coroner being called to the scene.

They place the location of the crash at Mills Creek Road and Highway 38, instead of at Garnet Street; however, that appears to be the same roadway.

I am told the group was setting up for a left turn from Hwy 38 onto Garnet Road, which is a downhill.

There is no traffic light, though there is a dedicated left turn lane. Traffic goes fast through there and often the oncoming traffic will cross over the lane lines as there is a slight S turn bend. It was a head on collision that threw Bruce into other riders, who then attempted CPR.

Update 3: A memorial service will be held at 2 pm this Sunday, August 6, at The University of Redlands Memorial Chapel. All friends and family wanting to honor Bruce Elliott and support his family are welcome.

Elliott’s family has requested that contributions be made to a crowdfunding campaign in lieu of flowers. The funds will be split between the nonprofit Bikes for Kids Foundation and the Grand Teton National Park; at this writing, it has raised over $9,000 of the modest $12,500 goal.

Update 4: The Redding Record Gazette confirms Elliott was the “captain of Don’s Bikes Race Team and part of Big Wheel Coaching, a group that mentored area riders,” and was well-loved in the local community.

“Bruce was an extraordinary guy,” said Scott Welsh, the Redlands Bicycle Classic media director. “He was very positive and energetic and had a good outlook on life. The cycling community can be an interesting cast of characters, but he was a bright, positive light and a natural leader.”

In addition to his love of bicycling, Elliott was a revered physical education teacher at Bella Vista Elementary School in Desert Hot Springs.

Bruce Elliott was also remembered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, where he served as the head of the Hopkinton Public Schools Health and Wellness Department for six years, from 2012 to 2017. 

According to the Hopkinton Independent

“He was a wonderful guy, such a hard worker, so positive,” (Hopkinton High School principal Evan Bishop) recalled. “He always had a smile on his face, always willing to roll up his sleeves and do whatever he was asked to do. He understood the stress that a lot of students were feeling and was just a really dependable, kind, caring, supportive colleague and leader of his department.”

Jeanne Reimonn was a Hopkinton neighbor and friend and remained in contact with the Elliott family after they moved. Bruce and Cindy Elliott have two grown children: a son, Wyatt (who graduated from HHS), and a daughter, Ainsley…

Reimonn noted the dangers of cyclists sharing the road with motor vehicles and said Hopkinton’s new downtown bike lanes are the type of thing that should be promoted.

“Bicycling infrastructure is something that we need more of,” she said. “It would help prevent some of these accidents.”

Photo from Spotfund page

My deepest sympathy and prayers for William Bruce Elliott and all his family and loved ones. 

Thanks to Jeffrey Rusk for the heads-up.

68-year old man killed riding a bike in Highland collision; police blame victim for not using crosswalk

Evidently, it was a bad weekend for SoCal bicyclists.

Starting with news that a man was killed riding a bike in Highland on Friday.

The Fontana Herald is reporting that a 68-year old man was struck by an eastbound driver while attempting to ride his bike across Baseline Street near McKinley Street around 8:25 pm.

The victim, a resident of Highland, apparently died at the scene.

According to the Highland Police Department, the victim was crossing outside of a crosswalk and without lights on his bike, a little less than half an hour after sunset.

However, while he should have been using lights in the growing dusk, bicyclists aren’t pedestrians and there is no requirement that someone on a bicycle must use a crosswalk — any more than drivers are required to cross at an intersection rather than mid-block.

The driver, a 69-year old man from Grand Terrace, remained at the scene.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Highland Police Department at 909/425-9793.

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

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

33-year old Riverside man killed riding bike in Fontana collision last Sunday

Evidently, it takes a long time for news to escape San Bernardino County.

The Fontana Herald News is reporting that a man riding a bicycle was killed in Fontana last Sunday.

According to the paper, 33-year old Riverside resident Manjeet Singh was struck by a driver while riding at Jurupa and Mulberry aves around 6:16 pm on July 16th.

He was transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where he died.

There’s no word on which street Singh was riding on, which direction the driver was going, or how the crash occurred.

Then again, the paper doesn’t even a mention of that there was a driver.

The paper reports the Fontana Police Department is still investigating. So hopefully, we’ll learn more.

But I wouldn’t count on it.

This is at least the 26th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fifth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Manjeet Singh and all his loved ones.

Person killed by cement truck driver in Ontario crash; a bicycle likely belonging to the victim seen underneath the truck

A person was killed in a collision with a cement truck in Ontario Friday morning.

And there’s a strong likelihood that the victim was riding a bicycle.

According to KTLA-5, the victim was apparently in the crosswalk on Archibald Ave at the onramp to the eastbound 60 Freeway in Ontario when he or she was struck by the driver of a cement truck turning onto the ramp around 8:35 am Friday.

The victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, died at the scene.

The driver told CHP investigators he believed the person was in the crosswalk at the time of the crash; an aerial view showed a tarp a few feet from the crosswalk.

When the driver pulled over a short distance later, there was a bicycle visibly lodged under the truck.

While it hasn’t been publicly confirmed that the victim was riding a bike, it seems pretty farfetched to conclude that the driver coincidentally ran over a bicycle and a pedestrian in separate incidents at nearly the same time.

If this is confirmed, it will be at least the 23rd 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 all their loved ones.

Update: Woman killed in Yucaipa crash with motorcyclist identified as former MTB pro Monique “Pua” Parmelee

Not many details yet, but I’m getting word of woman on a bicycle killed in a Yucaipa collision yesterday afternoon.

A 2:35 pm Facebook post from the Yucaipa Police Department reported that Wildwood Canyon Road was closed between Mesa Grande Drive and Canyon Drive, next to Wildwood Park, due to a fatal traffic collision. They added later that it involved a crash between bike rider and a motorcyclist.

A commenter says she knew the victim, identifying her as a “beautiful, young, athletic, wife, mother,” while other comments confirm it was the person on the bicycle who was killed.

An Instagram post calls her a “bright light” in the bicycling community, describing her death as “an absolutely crushing blow to a young family” he’s close with.

There’s no word on the condition of the motorcyclist.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know right now; hopefully we’ll get more information soon. If you know something, let me know if there’s anything you can share.

This is at least the fourth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year. And it’s already the third that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County, which is off to a very bad start to the new year.

Update: No word yet on how this crash occurred, but now we know who the victim was. And why so many in the local bicycling community were so upset when they got the news. 

VeloNews is reporting that 42-year old retired pro endurance mountain biker Monique “Pua” Parmelee was the woman killed in Wednesday’s collision. 

Parmelee, known as Pua Mata before her marriage to Chris Parmelee, was described as a “fierce and ferocious competitor” on the bike, but quiet, kindhearted and compassionate off it. 

Here’s how the magazine describes the ten-time national champion’s racing career

A native of Oahu, Hawaii, Monique Parmelee rose to prominence in the U.S. mountain bike scene in the early 2000s as a top cross-country rider on the National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) circuit. A tenacious and focused racer, Parmelee was known best as both Monique Sawicki and Pua Mata. She excelled at cross-country races that stretched beyond the typical hour-and-a-half duration, and began winning ultra-endurance and Marathon-length MTB events on the budding U.S. circuit. Parmelee also blossomed into one of the top 24-Hour solo MTB racers on the planet.

She claimed three U.S. titles in 24-Hour solo racing and seven national Marathon MTB titles. In 2009 Parmelee finished seventh place at the UCI Marathon MTB World Championships. Parmelee also won Costa Rica’s grueling La Ruta de los Conquistadores mountain bike race in 2012 and 2013, and finished second at the U.S. cross-country mountain bike national championships in 2013.

She leaves behind her husband and two young children, boys aged just six and four. A fundraising campaign for her family has raised over $36,000 of the $150,000 goal in just 24 hours. 

I’m told the park near where she was killed is a popular exit point for mountain bikers coming off the local trails. 

Correction: I initially spelled the victim’s last name as Parmalee, based on the spelling in the VeloNews story. However, I’m told by a family member that the correct spelling is Parmelee, and have corrected it throughout this story, including within the VeloNews quote.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Monique “Pua” Parmelee and all her family and loved ones.

Thanks to Victor Bale, Zachary Rynew and Cani for the heads-up. 

Two people killed by alleged DUI hit-and-run driver while riding against traffic in Rancho Cucamonga bike lane

Once again, someone on a bicycle has been murdered by a drunken hit-and-run driver.

Okay, make that two people.

KTLA-5 is reporting that an alleged drunk driver killed a man and woman riding salmon in a Rancho Cucamonga bike lane Tuesday night.

Although the fact that they were riding against traffic wouldn’t matter if the impatient driver hadn’t decided to use the bike lane as an illegal traffic bypass lane.

The victims, identified only as a 41-year old man and a 33-year old woman, both from Upland, were riding in the bike lane on Foothill Blvd and Etiwanda Ave around 8:20 pm.

That’s when 23-year old Fontana resident Robert Gubany allegedly swerved into the bike lane to bypass backed-up traffic, apparently without checking to make sure it was clear, and slammed head-on into the two victims.

The woman died at scene; her companion died after being taken to a local hospital.

According to The Daily Bulletin both victims were homeless; the paper also reports that the woman is 42-years old, rather than 33.

Gabney continued driving without stopping, until he was involved in another crash later that night.

He was arrested at the scene of the second crash on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Hopefully, prosecutors will add a charge of felony hit-and-run resulting in death.

Anyone with information is urged to call San Bernardino County Sheriff’s investigators at 909/477-2800.

This is just the second and third bicycling fatalities in Southern California this year, and the first two that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

They’re also the first two bike riders killed by a hit-and-run driver in Southern California in 2023.

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