Northern California - A child on a bike was struck & killed in San Jose

San Jose sixth-grader fatally struck by SUV on her way home from school.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9565948


This bites. Bigtime.

Awwww crap! :mad:

That just sucks! On the last day of school too.

"How could you not notice a kid riding a bike home from school?"

Gawd not another one... as a father of two girls it hits home really close. I can't even imagine the pain that the family is going through over her senseless death. God rest her soul.

Reading that news report is very upsetting. :(:mad:
The worst thing is its very likely that nothing will happen to the driver.

I live half a block away from an elementary school inside a neighborhood. There is a posted 25 mph speed limit but drivers often speed through in excess of 35+ mph. Its especially worst when the parents are speeding in in the morning and the afternoon to drop off and pick up their kids. Morons, I tell you.

I don't want to jump to any conclusions here, so ignore the following:

[jumping to conclusions]She was probably on her mobile, oblivious to anything beyond her conversation.[/jumped]

The Mercury News link is severely not working for me, but gah, how awful. There's both an elementary and a high school only a few blocks from me and each other, and I'm surprised there isn't more havoc between the two.


[jumping to conclusions]She was probably on her mobile, oblivious to anything beyond her conversation.[/jumped]For a few seconds there, I thought you had the darkest sense of humor imaginable, until I realized you were talking about the driver, and not the kid. But yeah, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the driver was, you know, thinking of more important things at the time. :rolleyes:

Yes ... the driver ...

This is every parent's worst nightmare.

:(

I have nothing else... am gonna go and hug my girls now.

I live in the neighborhood where this happened and my daughters went to Hoover. I'm surprised that there wasn't a crossing guard at that intersection. The speed limit is posted at 25mph. I've ridden that bike lane many times. This is just a senseless tragedy.

I ride pass that everyday. I take Park home from USC to Downtown SJ.

So sad.

I used to live near an elementary school, and I swear the drivers around the school were the worst.. especially in the mornings and then the afternoons. Too many parents, in too much of hurry. This is the kind of thing you think "might" happen when you see SUV"s flying around school zones dumping off a pile of kids and then hitting the gas before the last kid out is totally on the ground..The it does, and it still just makes your stomach bottom out.

and there was a bike lane? damn, they gotta get rid of those things they dont work and drivers mentally block out any cyclists riding on them.

I dont know I am just upset over this and looking for something to blame I guess.

Gawd not another one... as a father of two girls it hits home really close. I can't even imagine the pain that the family is going through over her senseless death. God rest her soul.


I couldn't agree more with that statement.


I unfortunately have seen an 8 year old kid run down by a drunk driver at 9:00 in the morning. Still sickens me to even think about it. Senseless killings of innocent kids is something that nobody should tolerate no matter what the circumstances are.

Aiigh! How could they _not_ cite her? At the very least, the driver FAILED TO YIELD the right of way since she was making the left turn, whether she saw the girl or not. "I didn't see her" is NOT an excuse.

This is sickening and makes me worry about my kids that much more.

"With her daughter watching and waiting for her at Hoover Middle School, Adriana Fierro De Marin's Ford Bronco made a tragic turn in the quiet Rose Garden neighborhood."

Amazing. This is the lead to the story. The DRIVER didn't turn the vehicle into the girl, the BRONCO apparently steered itself and hit the bicycle the girl was riding. The reporter then goes on to describe how distraught the driver is over the collision.
Is this the same reporter that wrote about the crash on Stevens Canyon Road? Sympathy for the distraught driver that runs over people on bikes?

I teach at a middle school and yes, parents intent on their own child's safety are not always looking out for other people's children. I bike commute and for my own safety I get there well before the parents arrive.

My heart goes out to Breanna's family and friends.

Wow, this is just horrible. I'm wondering if I'll ever let my kids ride their bikes to school now.

JB

So terribly sad. :(

+1 don't know what more to say. Tragic.

I'm with JB, the missus and I have had several discussions about our kids and when they'll be old enough to ride on the road, with or without me. Scary stuff.

Wow, this is just horrible. I'm wondering if I'll ever let my kids ride their bikes to school now.

JB


+1 don't know what more to say. Tragic.

I'm with JB, the missus and I have had several discussions about our kids and when they'll be old enough to ride on the road, with or without me. Scary stuff.

I'm in the same boat. Without understanding how the vehicular traffic system works, it's hard for kids to anticipate the movements of the cars on the roads. Even though they they might demonstrate competence in operating a bike in general, I'm finding they don't typically demonstrate enough competence on the road with traffic. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

Latest update: The driver is not a licensed driver! AAAIIIIIGGGGHHHH!
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9576185

The determination on whether to file charges will be made by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office once police wrap up their investigation, a process that could take up to six months.

Driving without a license in California is a misdemeanor, Sullivan said. No citations were issued in this case.


Six months??? How do you not charge someone at the scene of a homicide who doesn't have a license? I don't care how distraught she was... she should have been hauled off to jail in handcuffs and processed before they let her go... instead she plays the pity angle and goes to church and cries for the media - who also reported Breanna wasn't wearing a helmet... more blame shifting... as if being dragged by a Bronco was incidental. This sounds a lot like the case in Danville last year, I forgot what resulted from that one.

Wonder if she has insurance.

Adriana Fierro De Marin, child murderer.

This is the same DA's office as Steven's Creek.

My heart goes out to Breanna's family. So sad day.


Mercury New sure has the worst rap sheet when it comes to reporting accidents involving bicycles. Letters to the editor are on their way already.

Also:

There will be a Town Hall Meeting on Bicycle Safety Crisis on the 28th of June.
This from the SVBC Web site:

Town Hall Meeting on Our Bicycle Safety Crisis (http://svbcbikes.org/content/273)

Submitted by maiki on June 9, 2008 - 8:13pm.
Here are the facts: Over the past 10 years, nearly 200 Bay Area bicyclists have been killed and more than 25,000 injured, according to the California Highway Patrol. During that same time, Santa Clara County had the highest number of fatalities and injuries per capita compared to the nine other Bay Area counties! Those numbers are rising at an alarming rate, both locally and nationally. What can we do to make the roads safe for everyone?
Bicycling advocates say that one solution is to raise motorists’ awareness that bicyclists have the right to use the roadways and to firmly enforce existing laws against drivers involved in collisions with bicyclists. Several states have passed laws requiring drivers to give bicyclists a minimum three-foot berth as they pass. However, an attempt last year by Assemblyman Pedro Nava to pass a similar law in California was unsuccessful. What are the alternatives?
Join this urgent town hall meeting to discuss the ways to reduce the number of bicycle injuries and fatalities in our communities.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
1:00 PM
San Jose City Council Chambers
200 East Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA






I would encourage every one who possibly can to attend the meeting.

Sadly and ironically, this might lead to a raised awareness about bicycling safety, even more than the Stevens Creek tragedy since a child was involved. gah.

Our neighbor's 8th grade son was hit/killed by a drunk in a SUV just after stepping off a school bus. I never, ever, ever want to experience pain like that again. I still see his mother's face after hearing the news clear as day and it was 3 years ago. It changed my outlook on a lot of things. Makes me keep an even tighter leash on my own kids. News like this always makes me feel sick inside. Hell with cars today!!!

No DL? GREAAT!! Well surely that qualifies for manslaughter. No DL means that the state has not certified her as a competent operator of motor vehicles on state roads/highways.

This just angers me

My heart goes out to Breanna's family. So sad day.


Mercury New sure has the worst rap sheet when it comes to reporting accidents involving bicycles. Letters to the editor are on their way already.

Also:

There will be a Town Hall Meeting on Bicycle Safety Crisis on the 28th of June.
This from the SVBC Web site:

Town Hall Meeting on Our Bicycle Safety Crisis (http://svbcbikes.org/content/273)

Submitted by maiki on June 9, 2008 - 8:13pm.
Here are the facts: Over the past 10 years, nearly 200 Bay Area bicyclists have been killed and more than 25,000 injured, according to the California Highway Patrol. During that same time, Santa Clara County had the highest number of fatalities and injuries per capita compared to the nine other Bay Area counties! Those numbers are rising at an alarming rate, both locally and nationally. What can we do to make the roads safe for everyone?
Bicycling advocates say that one solution is to raise motorists’ awareness that bicyclists have the right to use the roadways and to firmly enforce existing laws against drivers involved in collisions with bicyclists. Several states have passed laws requiring drivers to give bicyclists a minimum three-foot berth as they pass. However, an attempt last year by Assemblyman Pedro Nava to pass a similar law in California was unsuccessful. What are the alternatives?
Join this urgent town hall meeting to discuss the ways to reduce the number of bicycle injuries and fatalities in our communities.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
1:00 PM
San Jose City Council Chambers
200 East Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA


I would encourage every one who possibly can to attend the meeting.

Do they always have council meetings on Saturday afternoons?
Seems like a good way to guarantee low attendance (at least in my case).
Giro Di Peninsula in the AM and my daughter's dance recital immediately following.

If not for the dance recital I'd say let's end the Giro Di Peninsula with a jaunt over to the SJ Council Chambers.

I just sent this to the guy who wrote the article. This got my blood going.

Good Afternoon,
I would like to make a comment on this article. For one, I can’t believe the police would not cite someone who didn’t have a license who was involved in an accident, especially with a fatality. Instead your article suggests that the most important part of the preliminary investigation was the fact that the little girl was not wearing a helmet. The focus should be more about the driver and her part in the accident. How fast was she going because I’ve lived in that neighborhood for 25+ years and I know the speed limit is 25mph or less? The article also implies that because there weren’t any drugs or alcohol involved that it’s “OK” not to have a drivers’ license. All of those things are illegal! Then the DA has the gall to say that ”it can't speculate about charging options on a case it has not yet received” and that the process may take up to 6 months” Is that the going rate for a little girls death? It seems lately with the death of those 2 cyclists by a Sheriff’s deputy and now this little girl on a bike, that people on bikes are not of importance when someone gets killed. Shame on the bureaucratic bull**** of Santa Clara County.

BlastRadius,

Noticed the meeting time after pasting the announcement on the Forum, was wondering about the date and time also. Not the best time to get cyclists into a meeting.
Don't know if it is their regular meeting time/day.

My 7 year old daughter (entering 3rd grade next year) bikes 1/2 a mile to school every day. Her brother will be joining her next year as a kindergartener. Either my wife or I always accompany her even though she goes the back way which avoids most of the heavy traffic at the front of the school. I see kids her age biking by themselves to school, but I'm just too paranoid these days since she still has to cross two intersections.

Channel 2 news had a lead-in story about a program to promote more bikes on the road ... but just don't try to ride in Santa Clara County! :mad: So ironic.

A later story said the girl was riding on the sidewalk. It's very shaded there with a short height hedge betweeen the street and the sidewalk, and several tree trunks that are providing the shade. The background behind the cyclist is a vine covered fence. I drove home past that intersection from the same direction as the driver. If a person is paying attention to the hundreds of kids on the sidewalk, they can see everyone on the sidewalk, even in the shade. It's VERY busy when people are picking up their kids, and the "senior" grade graduated that day, so Park was most likely full with few breaks in traffic to make a left turn.
I won't even comment on the driver's name and never having been issued a drivers license.

On my early morning rides, I pass by an elementary school. I always have to be super-cautious and defensive riding through that area because the parents dropping their kids off are double parking, turning in and pulling out without looking, yapping on their cell phones in a super-rush to get to work or wherever - it's a jungle around there. gahhh.



http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k186/jobob22/stuff/2008-04-29.gif
http://www.yehudamoon.com

rode home on my usual route today and saw some flowers near the school.


sad.

I just sent this to the guy who wrote the article. This got my blood going.

Good Afternoon,
I would like to make a comment on this article. For one, I can’t believe the police would not cite someone who didn’t have a license who was involved in an accident, especially with a fatality. Instead your article suggests that the most important part of the preliminary investigation was the fact that the little girl was not wearing a helmet. The focus should be more about the driver and her part in the accident. How fast was she going because I’ve lived in that neighborhood for 25+ years and I know the speed limit is 25mph or less? The article also implies that because there weren’t any drugs or alcohol involved that it’s “OK” not to have a drivers’ license. All of those things are illegal! Then the DA has the gall to say that ”it can't speculate about charging options on a case it has not yet received” and that the process may take up to 6 months” Is that the going rate for a little girls death? It seems lately with the death of those 2 cyclists by a Sheriff’s deputy and now this little girl on a bike, that people on bikes are not of importance when someone gets killed. Shame on the bureaucratic bull**** of Santa Clara County.

Way to write a letter! I agree with your points.

I'm still galled that they tried to blame Breanna and haven't cited the driver. I know she's shaken to her core but I still wish they'd throw the book at her.

This is wrong on so many levels.

Keeping a good thought for the family...I can't begin to know their pain and I'm sorry for their loss.

How does someone without a drivers license walk away from a fatal car accident without being put in jail?

Drunk in public.... walking down the street minding my own business... I get put in jail.

Driving around without a license.. kill a kid on a bike... I get to go home.

I'm a bit confused.

I'd go to the town hall meeting, but I have a pre-planned ride that day...

How does someone without a drivers license walk away from a fatal car accident without being put in jail?

Drunk in public.... walking down the street minding my own business... I get put in jail.

Driving around without a license.. kill a kid on a bike... I get to go home.

I'm a bit confused.

I'd go to the town hall meeting, but I have a pre-planned ride that day...

I think we've already covered this, the second you get on a bike, your live is worth less.

One of the comments posted at the article says the driver does not have a license in any state, that she is an illegal alien. That poster does not tell where s/he got his/her "facts" on this though. May be just that the driver has a Hispanic Sur-Name?

The driver should be charged with at a minimum, manslaughter or vehicular homicide. Of course, chances are, no charges will be filed. :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

As the Pop of 2, I cannot imagine the grief the families are feeling.

:(:(:(

The last Mercury News article elaboarated on her lack of wearing a helmet as if it would have saved her being hit and dragged by a 6000lb vehicle.

At their modest one-bedroom cottage in San Jose, Castro and Slaughter alternated between sorrow and anger and questioned their decision to let her ride without a helmet.

"She didn't want just any helmet, there was a special one she wanted and we were saving to buy her one; we were going to get it this weekend," Castro said.

I hate the SJ Merc.

I find it humorous that the SJ Merc can't figure out why they are losing subscribers.. morons.

Why the freaking hell was she driving a freaking huge Bronco to pick her daughter up from school? My guess is that she's like 5'0" and can't even see over the freaking steering wheel. That, and the fact that the Bronco rides super high off the ground and has that long ass hood; there's gotta be at least a 6ft blind spot in front of the grille already.

And no license!!!

I didn't have time to find out who's mail route her family lives on, but they announced at work today that her family "doesn't have much", and were passing a card around that we could put donations in. I guess if they were saving to buy a helmet, then they are stretched fairly tight.

I didn't have time to find out who's mail route her family lives on, but they announced at work today that her family "doesn't have much", and were passing a card around that we could put donations in. I guess if they were saving to buy a helmet, then they are stretched fairly tight.

That's really great! One more reason to love the USPS. :thumb:

They are now reporting that the driver was an illegal immigrant:
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9642312?source=rss

They are now reporting that the driver was an illegal immigrant:
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9642312?source=rss

Look at the paper this morning. Deputy in Stevens Creek indicted and charged and the woman who hit the child also being charged.

They are now reporting that the driver was an illegal immigrant:
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9642312?source=rss

They're making this a lot about illegals having driver's licenses - let's see how this would be different.

1. Having a license means you have demonstrated some level of proficiency at handling your vehicle... this is just not very accurate, I've seen lots of people pass the test that really had no business behind the wheel - old folks with horrible reflexes and muscle control for example. There's not really any reason to suspect that this particular driver didn't know how to handle her Bronco - only that she didn't do it very well in this instance.

2. Having a license means you can have insurance - that's a good thing of course. Many times the victims survive but have huge medical bills so having insurance settlements can really help. Even in the case of fatalities having money makes everything easier to some degree. There's no correlation though between actually getting insurance just because you have the license.

3. Having a license means the cops may be able to track you down if you try to leave the country... probably not but maybe.

No, I just don't think it makes much difference. It's the attitude that driving is a right and a necessity that's the problem. And the lack of understanding of how dangerous it is that gets drivers complacent; they just don't make safety a priority when they're driving.

I didn't have time to find out who's mail route her family lives on, but they announced at work today that her family "doesn't have much", and were passing a card around that we could put donations in. I guess if they were saving to buy a helmet, then they are stretched fairly tight.

I just donated here:http://www.sjpoa.com/Donations/Default.asp