Southern California - Cyclist killed on PCH

A male cyclist was killed by a hit and run idiot on a popular stretch of northbound PCH at around 11:40 a.m. today.

Really sad.

And the idiotic driver took off.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/killed-360273-vehicle-coast.html

That really sucks. I was just getting ready to head out for a ride in that direction, kinda puts a downer on it now. Hope they find the driver and he gets what's coming to him, which if he was drunk should be the death penalty.

So sad to see one of our own taken out like that.Gods speed to him.I must admit these stories scare me and i do wonder when my number will come up.But it wont ever stop me.My prayers go out to his family.So sad.

I saw on another forum that they caught the guy up the road. He crashed into something and while investigating, they found he matched the description from the H and R.

I saw on another forum that they caught the guy up the road. He crashed into something and while investigating, they found he matched the description from the H and R.
Karma wins again.I always assume they are high on something because why would you ever take off?

Karma wins again.I always assume they are high on something because why would you ever take off?

Just so sad.

RIP sorry to read this...:(

This makes me really sad. :/ This is my usual route for rides from Huntington Beach to Long Beach. RIP. :(

I literally just started crying after reading the article!! I was ON THOSE EXACT STREETS at 11am today riding back home to long beach and might have seen the cyclist. Wow....I'm so so Sad to hear the news of this and even more thankful than anything else that I was able to come home and see my wife. I will definitely not take things for granted anymore and pray that God brings comfort to the cyclist' family!

I ride that stretch (usually in the other direction) reasonably often... what a tragedy. :(

So sad and a needless tragedy. I too have ridden this stretch on several occasions. Scary.

There are many, many comments submitted on the O.C. Register website concerning this article. David Whiting, reporter for the O.C. Register, left the below comment. This is a good opportunity for us to give some suggestions to someone who may be able to spread the word about possible solutions to the dangerous conditions out there.

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/274971_1008274201_2079539808_q.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/david.whiting.12)


David Whiting (http://www.facebook.com/david.whiting.12) · Top Commenter · Page One Columnist/Editor at Large (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Page-One-ColumnistEditor-at-Large/258010580902844) at The Orange County Register (http://www.facebook.com/ocregister) Enlightening thread. It's sad that the division between cyclists (who also drive) and drivers continues to exist. If you have suggestions for solutions, please email me. I'll share in a future column. Please include city of residence and phone number: dwhiting@ocregister.com.

The idiot killer was DUI at 11:40 a.m. (shakes head)

Be careful out there all.

The culture of alcohol and drinking in America kills people everyday. No one wants to stop the party though.

Until America gets serious about punishing drunk drivers then enjoy the carnage.

RIP to the victim. I've ridden though that same spot thousands of times.

Does anyone know who or when will they be putting a Ghost Bike on that spot? I'd like to be there.

Los Angeles Times

Driver arrested in fatal hit and run in Huntington Beach
June 22, 2012 | 9:12 pm

A motorist in Huntington Beach who allegedly struck and killed a bicyclist and fled the scene on Friday was arrested later in connection with the collision, authorities said.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/06/driver-arrested-in-a-fatal-hit-and-run-in-huntington-beach.html

I'm sorry to read this thread. The last car-vs.-cyclist accident (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/815754-Rider-hit-on-Bayside-Drive-Friday-5-4) that I witnessed (just last month) was also caused by an impaired driver.

Regarding the driver, he was already on probation. Looks like he will end up doing a few years in prison.

RIP to the victim. I've ridden though that same spot thousands of times.

Does anyone know who or when will they be putting a Ghost Bike on that spot? I'd like to be there.


Who generally does this? I work with the bicycles at the Huntington Beach PD and could probably donate a bike to be painted white for this. Perhaps if someone would help me with the logistics (ie: paint it and transport it to and from the accident locations), we could keep the ghost bike at the PD lot and use it for such occurrances as they come up. Let me know what you think.

Who generally does this? I work with the bicycles at the Huntington Beach PD and could probably donate a bike to be painted white for this. Perhaps if someone would help me with the logistics (ie: paint it and transport it to and from the accident locations), we could keep the ghost bike at the PD lot and use it for such occurrances as they come up. Let me know what you think.
So sad....

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/orange_county&id=8712054

this stuff happens everyday. drunk drivers have no fear in america.

With the hugely increased penalties for hitting someone while DUI, unfortunately it makes sense to the perp to leave the scene, sober up, and turn themselves in later. Then you get their stories that they "never knew they hit anyone, but thought it was a pothole", or that the cyclist "came out of nowhere into their lane", and they can plea bargain way, way, down if there's no conflicting evidence.

RIP to the victim. I've ridden though that same spot thousands of times.

Does anyone know who or when will they be putting a Ghost Bike on that spot? I'd like to be there.

I rode past the location this morning...the Ghost Bike is there, along with a "RIP" sign.

I rode past the location this morning...the Ghost Bike is there, along with a "RIP" sign.

Will have to do a ride that direction and bring some flowers to place there.

Every year I do the Ride of Silence, I also ride on PCH (in Ventura County). Two of my daughters are regular bike commuters. Sometimes I question the sanity of pursuing an activity that could kill or main me. :(

Godspeed to the rider's family.

Sounds like the cyclist was riding on the shoulder and the motorist drifted too far to the right and hit the bicycle.

This is one of the reasons I wear a sunglass mounted rear view mirror. It's not a 100% guarantee, but, if there's a car behind me that is weaving into the bike lane and threatening to mow me down, there's a chance that I'll notice and get out of the way before it's too late.

Sounds like the cyclist was riding on the shoulder and the motorist drifted too far to the right and hit the bicycle.

This is one of the reasons I wear a sunglass mounted rear view mirror. It's not a 100% guarantee, but, if there's a car behind me that is weaving into the bike lane and threatening to mow me down, there's a chance that I'll notice and get out of the way before it's too late.

Very likely that is how it happened. Know that stretch very well, as the stretch between Seapointe and the traffic light at the entrance to the Bolsa Chica wetlands is one stretch where you can really crank up the speed.

Regarding rear view mirrors: it is very possible that the speed cars are travelling on that stretch (55-60mph or more) won't leave enough time to get out of the way of an impaired or distracted driver.

Just sad, as that stretch's scenery is beautiful and a joy to ride.

Condolences to the family of Mr. Roger Michael Lippman, an all around good guy. As many have mentioned, I have ridden that route hundreds of times. It was not an unsafe route to ride, it is as safe as the rider & driver made it. Now, for me at least, that stretch of road is unsafe and I will ride on the frontage/access road to the beach parking area. Drinking and driving penalties should be much, much more severe.

Just sad. My heart goes out to Mr. Lippman and his family.

That was my same daily commute between Warner/PCH and Hoag for years and I finally had enough of being buzzed or having crap thrown at me (and even one group of teenagers try to jump me) that I ended up using the MUP or the connected beach access roads between Seacliff and Warner.

The guy who hit him has an extensive rap sheet and if he'd done any real time or suffered any real penalties for any number of his previous crimes Mr. Lippman might very well be alive today. It isn't even his first DUI and his license should have been revoked for life quite some time ago. When are lawmakers going to start to treat driving as a privilege instead of a right?

I've ridden that stretch 3 times in 2 years, and each time I was worried about getting hit. I don't go back there any more. PCH is just way beyond the danger level that I'll accept. It's the only place I've been yelled at by frat boys in a car, and also the only place I've been intentionally buzzed - again by some *other* drunk looking d-bag 18-24 year olds in a mustang.

DUI's ending in ped/cyclist deaths are happening constantly, and yet up in San Francisco the cyclist that killed a pedestrian is getting eaten alive in the media and everybody wants the guy hung from his thumbs. Things seem so far out of whack sometimes.

I've ridden that stretch 3 times in 2 years, and each time I was worried about getting hit. I don't go back there any more. .

So sad to hear about this accident. Reminds of why I won't take Gina on PCH any longer. Couple years back were close to Warner, well within the bike lane when I looked back to see a huge mobile home blow alongside of Gina. Might have been one foot but looked like inches to me. Screw that! It's a hobby and I ain't risking my wife's life for funzies.

Takes just one idiot and there are too many out there now!

I've ridden that stretch 3 times in 2 years, and each time I was worried about getting hit. I don't go back there any more. PCH is just way beyond the danger level that I'll accept. It's the only place I've been yelled at by frat boys in a car, and also the only place I've been intentionally buzzed - again by some *other* drunk looking d-bag 18-24 year olds in a mustang.

DUI's ending in ped/cyclist deaths are happening constantly, and yet up in San Francisco the cyclist that killed a pedestrian is getting eaten alive in the media and everybody wants the guy hung from his thumbs. Things seem so far out of whack sometimes.


Any road in Huntington Beach is pretty much a danger zone. Much more than in most OC cities. Nowhere in Southern California is "Car Culture" more celebrated with religious zeal. I used to ride Irvine to Long Beach all the time, but I stopped doing that route over a year ago.

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Thanks for the pictures.

Godspeed Roger Lippman. I don't know you, but as a fellow cyclist who has cycled through that stretch many times, I feel it could have been me that got killed by this lowlife who killed you.

My condolences to Roger Lippman's family and friends; and I hope God grants them the fortitude, strength and grace to bear his loss.

I rode by the ghost bike on Saturday. Made me sad and angry at the same time. The shoulder/bike lane is as wide as they get. Unbelieveable.....

Yeah, I rode by it on Saturday too. Real sad.

If an idiotic driver was "texting" or DUI, it won't matter how wide the shoulder/bike lane is. That an idiot could be DUI at 11am is really frigging uunbelievable.

Be careful out there all.

I ride that stretch of road at least 3 times a week. Had I not happen to be out of town on that date, it could have been me. This really upsets me.

I passed by the ghost bike today and paid my respects.

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd475/cptncheesecake/Cycling/ghostbike.jpg