Bicyclist Killed In Anaheim, Ca

[fthomas]

Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Bicyclist killed in Anaheim crash
Police closed Katella Avenue and Euclid Street during rush hour traffic.
By CINDY CARCAMO
The Orange County Register

ANAHEIM - A bicyclist died Tuesday afternoon after a car struck him near Katella Avenue and Euclid Street, Anaheim Police Sgt. Rick Martinez reported.

At about 5 p.m. a woman driving west on Katella hit a bicyclist traveling north on Euclid, Martinez said. The cyclist was thrown from his bike, striking a truck in the area.

Paramedics took the cyclist to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana where he died of his injuries, Martinez said. The woman was taken to the same hospital for minor to moderate injuries.

Officers haven't released the cyclist's identity because his family hasn't been notified, Martinez said.

Area streets were partially shut down for two and a half hours for the investigation.

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1251491.php

[fthomas]

As a side note:

This is close to my office and an area that I have driven through often. The traffic is very heavy and there are far to many people riding their bicycles on the sidewalks, against traffic, etc. Many are not wearing a helmet and are wearing normal clothing of a drab or dark color and are not easily spotted.

The bicycle is becoming the transportation of choice for many Hispanic (large illegal alien population) people in this area. Unfortunately, they do not speak english and have no clue as to the rules of the road and how to safely negotiate our crowded streets on a bicycle. I suspect that these issues may have contributed to the accident above, but there isn't enough information in the report to tell. Unfortunately, given what I have witnessed while driving in this area these types of accidents will probably become far more frequent.

[webist]

A skimpy report so far.

[remsav]

I do wonder where they put this statistics, does it go with motorcycle or pedestrian deaths. It seems we have high rate of deaths on motorcycle and pedestrian vs autos.

"NHTSA said it was investigating the increase in pedestrian deaths, which increased from 4,675 in 2004 to 4,881 in 2005."

"The annual report said motorcycle fatalities rose 13 percent — to 4,553 in 2005."

"Some 43,443 people were killed on the highways last year, up 1.4 percent from 42,836 in 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday. It was the highest number in a single year since 1990, when 44,599 people were killed."

"Though deaths were up, the number of people injured in crashes declined 3.2 percent, from 2.8 million in 2004 to 2.7 million in 2005."

""One fatality is one too many, and we urge riders to take vital safety precautions," Buche said. "We also ask that all roadway users expect to see motorcyclists on the road and respect their right to be there.""

[John E]

A skimpy report so far.
I concur. Who had the right-of-way? Was the cyclist in a reasonably proper position on the roadway, on the correct side of the street? The report leaves far too many unanswered questions.

Since I lived in Huntington Beach during my high school years and my parents subsequently lived in Santa Ana, mention of "Katella and Euclid" still hits me close to home.

[fthomas]

It is a skimpy report and I suspect that the media will not print any additional details. A real shame, because we could all learn something from the facts.

Still, I see way to many bicyclist not observing traffic regulations and riding on sidewalks and crossing in cross walks without stopping. Drivers do not expect and are probably do not see a bicycle traveling with or against traffic on the sidewalk who uses the cross walk at the speed they have been travelling. A formula for disaster.

Additionally, at night I see many of these folks with no lights of any kind.

[ken cummings]

I concur. Who had the right-of-way? Was the cyclist in a reasonably proper position on the roadway, on the correct side of the street? The report leaves far too many unanswered questions.

Since I lived in Huntington Beach during my high school years and my parents subsequently lived in Santa Ana, mention of "Katella and Euclid" still hits me close to home.

I worked a short way East of there on the East side of DisneyLand for five years when I was car-free. Riding Katella was usually more exciting then this adrenaline junkie wanted. I found other ways around the area

[DCCommuter]

I do wonder where they put this statistics, does it go with motorcycle or pedestrian deaths.

NHTSA has a separate category called "pedalcyclists" (to distinguish from motorcyclists).