Southern California - Cyclist Killed By Drunk Driving Suspect

Folks, I just read of a cyclist killed by a drunk driving suspect on San Joaqiun Hills Road and Spyglass Road at 6 p.m. last night.

It is getting ridiculous out there.

May the cyclist find eternal rest, and may God give his family and friends the fortitude to bear the loss.

Be careful out there!

http://www.ocregister.com/news/bicyclist-289242-police-morton.html

6 pm... it was getting dark... not a good time to be riding out on busy streets. At some point cyclists are going to be banned going through the residential streets like Spyglass.

Very sad. Please be careful especially if riding at dusk or dark!

Crap...now I'm scared to do my usual Newport Coast climb tonight...

Pronounced dead on the scene, must've been some collision. RIP. Everyone be safe out there!

How can a driver with such an extensive driving record, still have her license?

This is so tragic. My prayers go out to the family. Be careful, my peeps.

How can a driver with such an extensive driving record, still have her license?

you know you can drive without a license. Unfortunately we can't jail all these people. The only way to keep them off the street is to lock them up and take away their cars.

Man, this is sad. My condolences to the cyclist's family and friends. First the guy who got hit on Newport Coast last year, and now this cyclist. That is my favorite area to climb hills in OC.

Going eastbound on San Joaquin Hills near Spyglass, that part is a little steep (8-9%) and you have to carefully work your way over left from the bike lane to avoid the right turn only lane. So, I can't imagine the cyclist was going very fast. But it can be dangerous through there and there is some tree cover, so at 6 p.m., visibility is not great. Last time I rode through there was two weeks ago and I was getting worried because it was about 4:40 p.m.

Can you believe that this lady drunk is still allowed to drive a car with the kind of record she has? Unbelievable!

http://www.ocregister.com/news/driving-289660-citations-received.html

It was just a matter of time for the karma to catch up with her. Unfortunately, one of our biking brothers died. Sad, very sad.
6PM and drunk????

6PM and drunk????

Not defending anyone here, but it was on a holiday.

Such BS! I wrote to two California State Senators today urging them to put some teeth in the driving while on a cell phone/texting law. I see people blatantly violating this on a daily basis. There are no real consequences...the fine should be $500+ for the first offense plus a point on your record. The law should apply to cyclists too.

Yeah, I see it all the time. I drive Main St. in Irvine on my commute home. Every other driver at the red lights are either talking on their phones or texting. When I'm in a confrontational mood, I'll knock on one of their windows, with a smile on my face, asking them to roll down their passenger window. They usually do, with a smile, at which point, I give them an earful. They are usually embarrassed and apologetic about it. One time, however, the woman was really really attractive, so I started flirting with her instead.

Not defending anyone here, but it was on a holiday.

Hey, it's 5 o'clock somewhere as the saying goes.....

Such BS! I wrote to two California State Senators today urging them to put some teeth in the driving while on a cell phone/texting law. I see people blatantly violating this on a daily basis. There are no real consequences...the fine should be $500+ for the first offense plus a point on your record. The law should apply to cyclists too.

It is not just the cell phone laws that need teeth. Make ALL moving violations very expensive. and if it is something like DUI or driving under suspension, take the car and auction it within 30 days.

Oh, and RIP to the bicyclist and I hope for better days for his family.

Better yet; when an officer pulls over a motorist for a moving violation, just shoot 'em on site and auction off their car with the proceeds going to the state. Kills two birds with one stone: Solve our state's budget problems. (need more money? Just "enforce" better). I'm sure there will never be another cyclist hit, too. :rolleyes:

How sad. I had a friend killed by drunk drivers on his bike and this stuff really gets to me. The problem is: drunk driving is 100% socially acceptable. It's the exception to the rule when I see people trying to stop somebody at a bar from getting in to a car when they have clearly had too much to drink.

Side note: I usually stay in on weekends because drunk drivers scare me, but I was out tonight and drove home behind somebody who was so drunk I flashed them with my brights (I would have ridden but this was in an industrial part of town where bikes are just not much of an option). They thought I was a cop and pulled over. I kept going but I hope they didn't.

It is not just the cell phone laws that need teeth. Make ALL moving violations very expensive. and if it is something like DUI or driving under suspension, take the car and auction it within 30 days.

Oh, and RIP to the bicyclist and I hope for better days for his family.

I totally agree with this. We need to start taking irresponsible drivers off the streets, putting them in rehab programs, helping them out, whatever. Right now there's just not much of a disincentive to drive with a suspended license, etc.

6PM and drunk????

No reason why someone shouldn't be drunk at 6pm, especially if they were celebrating something.

Getting behind the wheel drunk is a Very Bad Thing though, regardless of the time of day.

No reason why someone shouldn't be drunk at 6pm, especially if they were celebrating something.

Getting behind the wheel drunk is a Very Bad Thing though, regardless of the time of day.

Right. Time of day means little. Being responsible means a lot (in this case the life of another human being).