I just can’t.
For the eighth time in the last 16 days, someone riding a bicycle has been killed in Southern California, an average of one every other day.
Or in this case, just walking a bicycle across a Long Beach street.
Multiple sources are reporting that a man was walking east across Pacific Place near Wardlow Road with his bike, when he was struck by a northbound driver around 6:07 pm Wednesday.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police don’t believe speed, impaired driving or distracted driving contributed to the crash.
The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was reportedly walking outside of a crosswalk at the time of the crash. That’s legal under California law as long as it’s safe to cross; it could have looked that way to the victim before he started across the four lane street.
There’s also no word on which side of Wardlow he was on, or where he was in relation to the intersection. However, there is an A Line train station and bus stops north of Wardlow; it’s possible he was walking his bike to the station when he was struck.
Unfortunately, with the limited information we have at this time, there’s no way to know what really happened, or why. Hopefully, we’ll learn more soon.
The Long Beach Post reports that Pacific is one of the city’s most dangerous streets.
Pacific Avenue, which becomes Pacific Place at Wardlow, has been among the city’s deadliest streets in recent years, recording nine deaths in vehicular collisions since 2020, most of them being pedestrians.
City officials are redesigning the street to slow traffic and enlarge spaces for bikers and walkers.
Maybe they should hurry.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to call Detective Efrain Pineda of the Long Beach Police Department’s Collision Investigation Detail at 562/570-7355.
This is at least the 33rd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 12th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.
