Southern California - Senior on trike killed by a monster truck driver in HB

This showed up on the OC Register website this morning:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/truck-cyclist-bike-2344143-trike-killed

Looks like a good argument for not using the crosswalks and avoiding riding on Huntington Beach streets altogether...

Looks like a good argument for not using the crosswalks and avoiding riding on Huntington Beach streets altogether...

Yeah - something like that would never happen in any other city. :rolleyes:

Huntington Beach is nice, right around PCH where pedestrian traffic outnumbers cars by a good margin.

Beach Blvd is kinda scary even in a car, IMO....can't imagine being on it on a bike...

:twitchy:

Sad,

Oversized vehicles have a blind spot on the passenger side....

http://www.dft.gov.uk/rmd/project.asp?intProjectID=10378

Sad,

Oversized vehicles have a blind spot on the passenger side....

http://www.dft.gov.uk/rmd/project.asp?intProjectID=10378
Even my stock Ford F150 4x4 with regular tires has a blind spot on the passenger side. Since I drive in a high pedestrian area everyday, I lean forward or get up a little in the seat when I make right turns.

Yeah, it can happen anywhere. But HB seems to have a particularly large number of lifted pickup-trucks. More so than many other cities in Orange County. Oceanside is another city that seems to have a large concentration of lifted pickups. I'm surprised we don't hear of this happening more often.

Am I the only one who noticed that the driver had the green and the "cyclist" was crossing in a cross walk (should be riding in traffic), presumably against a red? Sucks that he got killed, but sounds like he was to blame.

Regardless of who is to blame it is an unfortunate event, I just have trouble with things always being the drivers fault, same way I have trouble with drivers who think it's always the cyclists fault.

Re-read the article. The author of the article posted a comment that both the driver and the cyclist had the green (according to the police). Looks like the cyclist was crossing on the walk signal, and the driver made a right turn on the green. So does that mean the driver is at fault for not yielding to the pedestrian walk signal?

If that is the case then had the guy been walking yes it would absolutly be the drivers fault. However with the guy being on a bicycle I think fault may still fall to him being that he should be with traffic and not in the crosswalk as he is not a pedestrian.

I did miss that part of the article though.

That's a large and very conjested intersection; I'd never ride through it on a bicycle unless absolutely necessary, and there's NO curb lane/bikelane on that section on Beach Blvd from that intersection down to the Ballys Fitness Center (about three miles south of where the accident was). The Bally's is popular during the daytime with older Vietnamese folks - its got a big spa. That's quite a haul for the older dude on a trike, especially if he's coming down from Westminster.

This is sad, condolences to the family.

If that is the case then had the guy been walking yes it would absolutely be the drivers fault. However with the guy being on a bicycle I think fault may still fall to him being that he should be with traffic and not in the crosswalk as he is not a pedestrian.


Did you miss the part where he was a 72 year old guy on an adult tricycle? He was at walking speed and crossing with the light. Yes, I suppose he technically should have been on the street at 20 mph, but that's not at all realistic.

This is another case of a motorist not having control of their vehicle and killing a cyclist. Nothing is every done to the motorist, and nothing will ever been done without public outcry.

There are lots of emotional comments following the story. There are apparently eyewitness accounts of the driver getting out and helping to perform CPR on the cyclist.

The driver would have hit a pedestrian or child if he couldn't see an elderly riding a trike.

I drove delivery trucks in OC & LA for years. Right front corner visibilty is severely limited in a large truck. It's case where the rider has to be aware that the truck driver probably does not & can not see him or her. Trikes are lower than bikes, causing even more visibilty problems. Beach Blvd. is a nightmare to ride due to the high speed (50mph) of traffic and large number of driveways.

Never hit anybody myself. Came close a few times.

Did you miss the part where he was a 72 year old guy on an adult tricycle? He was at walking speed and crossing with the light. Yes, I suppose he technically should have been on the street at 20 mph, but that's not at all realistic.

This is another case of a motorist not having control of their vehicle and killing a cyclist. Nothing is every done to the motorist, and nothing will ever been done without public outcry.

Who said he was at walking speed? One of the groups I ride with locally has an 88 year old man that tools along at 15mph, much faster than walking. We have another senior that is pushing 70 and races VERY competitivly on the local/national scene.

If you are incapable of riding correctly in a certain area then you shouldn't be riding there. End of story. There are roads that I feel safe riding 8mph with my wife and daughter, there are other roads that I don't feel safe on at any speed. If this intersection is as dangerous as everyone here is claiming it to be then it should be avoided.

I am not trying to cheapen this mans death, it is tragic no matter how it is sliced, but it is also not fair to crucify the driver for it, not in this instance.

Now the Dr. that purposely slammed on his brakes a few months back sending two cyclists through his rear window should be crucified.

Cyclists and Motorists need to respect each other, it is not a one way deal. The guy driving the truck by all accounts stopped to help and did everything he could.


They are different situations.

I drove by the site of this accident today. Seeing the memorial that was placed near the site really changed my perspective on what was reported to have happened. Sure, there should be outcry to make sure that law enforcement does something about motorists who violate the vehicle code with respect to unsafe vehicles (ie tall trucks). But there should also be outcry against traffic systems that don't accommodate traffic of all types.

After taking a look at this site, I feel that there's no room for anything BUT cars. It's where traffic to and from the 405 freeway merges with two major thoroughfares. Not even a pedestrian should feel safe there. The fact that there are crosswalks to begin with is just a joke. IMO, there shouldn't be crosswalks there at all, they are absolutely pointless at this intersection. The crosswalk signals operate at such a duration that makes it impossible for anyone to make it across WITHOUT RUNNING. It's as if they were put there just to comply with some ordinance, rather than to actually be useful to anybody.

The sad thing is the biker probably HAD NO CHOICE but to pass through this gauntlet. I'm not a Huntington Beach native, but I do not think the biker had any other choice to get to where he was going. Chances are he was on his way to HB from Westminster. If so, then he'd be crossing the 405. There are only a few places to cross the 405, this being one of them. IMO, there are NO SAFE WAYS to get past the 405 unless you are in a motor vehicle.

On the same token, I would only fault the driver so much. Of course the choice of vehicles had A LOT to do with the accident, but I feel he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, just like the biker was. This accident was going to happen. It was just a matter of time and a matter of chance as to whom it would affect.

-D

Who said he was at walking speed? One of the groups I ride with locally has an 88 year old man that tools along at 15mph, much faster than walking. We have another senior that is pushing 70 and races VERY competitivly on the local/national scene.

If you are incapable of riding correctly in a certain area then you shouldn't be riding there. End of story. There are roads that I feel safe riding 8mph with my wife and daughter, there are other roads that I don't feel safe on at any speed. If this intersection is as dangerous as everyone here is claiming it to be then it should be avoided.

I am not trying to cheapen this mans death, it is tragic no matter how it is sliced, but it is also not fair to crucify the driver for it, not in this instance.

Now the Dr. that purposely slammed on his brakes a few months back sending two cyclists through his rear window should be crucified.

Cyclists and Motorists need to respect each other, it is not a one way deal. The guy driving the truck by all accounts stopped to help and did everything he could.


They are different situations.

Read between the lines. Yes, there are older folks that hold a good speed. It's easy to see he wasn't one of them.

First, he was 72, second he was on a trike and third, the article says, "In 1990, after suffering debilitating injuries, Dieu Vu reunited with his family." This guy was not cruising 15 mph. It just wasn't happening.

To be honest, I doubt I would ride that intersection. It's too busy for my tastes. There is a cross-walk there, though. I actually walked across it when I was getting the tires done on my wife's car about a year ago at the tire store there and went to the pizza place for lunch. While I was probably more heads-up when walking across the street, that in no way exempts the driver from killing a person crossing with the light while in the cross-walk. What are you thinking?

Is this the same as the doctor crash, no, it's not. That was attempted murder and/or assault with a deadly weapon. That was on purpose. I never drew the comparison, you did. It is manslaughter or at least involuntary manslaughter. I understand the driver was sorry. I feel for the guy. That does not change what he did and it doesn't change what happens in this area all too often. The end result is always the same. A dead or injured cyclist and a driver saying, "I didn't see him."

The following has been copy/pasted from the OCRegister website (comments section following the original article). Comment is written by a daughter of the man who was killed:

http://sitelife.ocregister.com/ver1.0/Content/images/no-user-image.gif (http://www.ocregister.com/share/profiles?slid=57df653b-05ea-ef74-69bd-142fd37b0cfa&plckUserId=57df653b-05ea-ef74-69bd-142fd37b0cfa)nancykerr (http://www.ocregister.com/share/profiles?slid=57df653b-05ea-ef74-69bd-142fd37b0cfa&plckUserId=57df653b-05ea-ef74-69bd-142fd37b0cfa) wrote:
I am another one of the daughters of Dieu Vu. This has been a devastating time for my family. I appreciate the compassion and understanding shown to my father and family. I also appreciate the OC Register writing up a story about this, but there seems to be a little confusion on what happened and the kind of transportation my father was on. I'm exhausted from coming home every night at 10:30 after a days of making funeral arrangements for my father, but I feel compelled to clarify a few things.

A few witnesses were kind enough to come to us to tell us what happened. The police report is not yet ready for us to read, so to hear from witness accounts meant a lot to us to know what happened in the last moments of my dad's life. One of the witnesses recognized my dad because he was a customer of the Water Market. It was routine of my dad to go to the gym at Bally's and then see my mom after for lunch down the street at the family business. The witnesses said they saw my dad standing on the sidewalk waiting to cross the street from the NE corner on Edinger crossing Beach. If you come down the hill west on Edinger towards Beach, there is a construction site with fencing that you cannot see through or around. My brothers, sisters and I drove this route over and over again to try to figure out how this could have happened. I could easily see how a driver would not see a pedestrian crossing this area until he gets past the fencing around the corner. Also, heading in this direction a car would be picking up speed down the hill. I also need to explain the bike my dad rides. He had a physical injury many years ago that rendered his right arm almost useless. My family felt the three-wheel bike was the safest for him to ride. This is a full sized bike--not a low or small bike that would prevent drivers from seeing him. As the witness stated, the "walk" light came on signalling him to walk. He looked to his left to make sure it was clear. He started walking his bike across the street when the truck came barrelling down the hill, around the corner. My dad saw at the corner of his eye and lifted his bike up to put it between him and the truck. In that split second, the truck hit my dad. Witnesses said they don't even think the driver knew he hit my dad, because my father was dragged about 300 feet and his bike was stuck in the undercarriage of his truck. The driver stopped a few hundred feet past where my dad's body lay when he realized what happened. He ran out of his truck and attempted to save my father...for that I am thankful to him. I know he feels devastated and his life will never be the same. I do wish he would had slowed down at the corner even though he had a green light, but I feel the fencing that causes a blind spot is a huge factor in this.

My father was a good man. So many customers loved him and cried with us when they found out what happened. He survived a terrible war and survived torture in prison camp. He was seperated from my famy for 15 years and then finally reunited to live in this great country with us. It is ironic that he survived all that and then his life was taken away so abruptly and in such a horrific way. I forgive the driver and have compassion for him. I don't blame God, but ask him to give my family strength; especially my mom, to see that there are so many other wonderful things about life to celebrate. I would not want to see this happen again, so I will working to get the city or construction company to move the fencing back to improve visibility.
3/25/2009 11:55:39 PM

*snip* I also need to explain the bike my dad rides. He had a physical injury many years ago that rendered his right arm almost useless. My family felt the three-wheel bike was the safest for him to ride. This is a full sized bike--not a low or small bike that would prevent drivers from seeing him. As the witness stated, the "walk" light came on signalling him to walk. He looked to his left to make sure it was clear. He started walking his bike across the street when the truck came barrelling down the hill, around the corner. My dad saw at the corner of his eye and lifted his bike up to put it between him and the truck. In that split second, the truck hit my dad. *snip*

Assuming this is true, which I have no doubt that it is, then my opinions above are no longer relevent. This would make it completely the drivers fault.

Jaye,
The OC register is notorious for having scant details in their articles. It's hard not to make assumptions when commenting such things... Too bad their reporters can't do much more to investigate these stories before printing them. It really leaves the readers to get into heated and emotional arguments with practically no background whatsoever... :crash:

-D

Assuming this is true, which I have no doubt that it is, then my opinions above are no longer relevent. This would make it completely the drivers fault.

Your opinions were never relevant. I just can't understand why anyone would be so quick to blame the poor person who was run over. What did you get out of that except being an a#@?

I don't know how you can have a monster truck run over a cyclist and it not be the drivers fault.

I just sorry to hear someone got killed while on a bike period, and I’m sure the guy in the truck fills like hell also….
But remember that when you are on a bike at an intersection that if you stay on your bike and ride thru you must stay out of the crosswalk and assume the role of a motor vehicle, and if you want to use the crosswalk you are required to get off and walk and you play the role of a pedestrian, that’s the written law. So it pretty simple if you are walking you should be in the crosswalk if you ride you should be in the lane or you are wrong, but yes cars should top in any case if someone is in the path.

Anybody fully realize the distances involved 'after the hit'? It's approx a typical Calif city block (~525 feet). If it was a child, the driver would never have noticed, esp if he didn't hear anything when he ran over and dragged an adult trike and it's owner 'x' number of feet. Plus he was 'walking his bike' across the street and was in the crosswalk, not riding it.

Witnesses said they don't even think the driver knew he hit my dad, because my father was dragged about 300 feet and his bike was stuck in the undercarriage of his truck. The driver stopped a few hundred feet past where my dad's body lay when he realized what happened.

Anybody fully realize the distances involved 'after the hit'? It's approx a typical Calif city block (~525 feet). If it was a child, the driver would never have noticed, esp if he didn't hear anything when he ran over and dragged an adult trike and it's owner 'x' number of feet. Plus he was 'walking his bike' across the street and was in the crosswalk, not riding it.

Exactly. The old guy was doing everything 100% correct.

Your opinions were never relevant. I just can't understand why anyone would be so quick to blame the poor person who was run over. What did you get out of that except being an a#@?

My opinions were just as relevant as anyone elses. What did it get me? Participation on a forum, same thing every other post gets everyone else. Sorry for not posting only things that gel with your outlook.

holy crap thats less then a mile from my house.. RIP

Huntington Beach is nice, right around PCH where pedestrian traffic outnumbers cars by a good margin.

Beach Blvd is kinda scary even in a car, IMO....can't imagine being on it on a bike...

:twitchy:
I've been on Beach blvd on my bike. Scary stuff