Martinez bicyclist killed in hit and run
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: CenCal - SLO
Posts: 710
Bikes: S2, Wilier GTR (Arr), Giant VT, Myata 3-10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
3 Posts
...and don't wear light brown and dirty yellow when the annual grasses turn for the summer or red in low light conditions; choose sharp contrast with prevailing background.
Run your headlight at all times when there is traffic, unless y'a have to save battery for later on THAT day - same with tail light.
Don't argue with me; talk to your family and friends.
Someday this type of thing may be a rare happening, when roads are built "complete."
Run your headlight at all times when there is traffic, unless y'a have to save battery for later on THAT day - same with tail light.
Don't argue with me; talk to your family and friends.
Someday this type of thing may be a rare happening, when roads are built "complete."
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Room 237 at the Overlook Hotel
Posts: 791
Bikes: Hyphy-Trek
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 170
Bikes: Surly LHT; Surly Ogre; Sekai 1970s classic; Old Trek Hard-tail Mountain Bike; Trek 7200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Here's my experience calling the California Highway Patrol tip line with information about this accident.
In these days since the Mark Pendleton hit-and-run tragedy, I have been watching for Chevrolet Silverado and 2500 Series pick-up trucks and SUVs that might be of interest in the investigation. On Thanksgiving Day, I spotted such a vehicle, with left front-end damage, including parts of its head lamp or turn signal missing and a dented front corner panel. In the darkness, it was impossible to determine if the damage was recent. The pick-up truck was occupied, with two passengers sitting in the front seat, at a San Francisco corner. San Francisco is 30 miles from Martinez.
I discretely circled the vehicle several times, memorizing the license plate number, doing my best to be inconspicuous. The vehicle was a Series 2500 Chevrolet pick-up, the model that was forerunner to the Silverado, and might likely share its chassis and trim. The license plates were dirty and difficult to read, which is said to be an indicator that somebody is hiding something. But then, the whole heap was a wreck. This pick-up truck needed that bumper stick, "If this was my horse, I'd shoot her."
I think the chances that my Chevy, more than 30 miles from the accident scene in a large city, is the Chevy that caused the accident, is a long shot. CHP is running a tip line, and they've surely checked leads much closer to Martinez and Port Costa.
To my surprise, the dispatcher on Thursday told me that the vehicle had been found, in Martinez. What great news, I told her. Do you still want the license number and description of the vehicle I saw in San Francisco? She didn't even take my name. I'm sure, with caller ID on my telephone, she knew that she could get back in touch with me later, but in any case, she didn't even take basic police report data from me.
I thought about logging on here at bikeforums.net to announce my news scoop, that the Martinez vehicle had been found. But I realized that this would be a bad decision. What if the dispatcher was passing along to me department gossip or rumors, not yet true, or information about an investigation in progress, but not completed? Most of all, I realized that funeral and memorial rides had not yet taken place, and that the Pendleton family might not be informed. I felt that if the vehicle or driver was known, despite the fact that a dispatcher had told me what might be private information, it was better that Mark Pendleton's family be told about any news through proper channels.
I watched the news closely, hoping to read about the discovery of the vehicle and apprehension of the driver. I hoped for this to occur by Saturday, when the Pendletons would be saying goodbye forever at a funeral, when riders from all over the Bay Area would be there to memorialize Mark.
But nothing had happened by Saturday. No vehicle identification had been announced. Finally, I called back CHP, where I got what seemed to be the same phone dispatcher. I explained the circumstances again, and this time she did take the license number of the Chevy truck I saw.
"Why do you think this truck was involved in the accident?" she asked me. I explained that I have no reason to suspect anything, other than that I had observed a truck of a similar model with the requisite front end damage and missing pieces of its headlight and turn signal systems. The one piece of information I didn't give the dispatcher was the ethnic identity of the two drivers in the pick-up truck's cab. She didn't ask me about them. They can ask me that later, if there is any reason to.
Why didn't the dispatcher take this information in the first place? I doubt it will have any bearing on the case. I am struck by the scarcity of Chevrolet pick-up trucks on San Francisco's streets, especially compared to Ford and Toyota trucks. The Bay Area does not love General Motors. Nevertheless, even in a mega-city the size of the Bay Area, there can be only a few hundred Chevy pickups and SUVs running around with missing parts from their left front turn signal assemblies. Each one outside the core area (Martinez) that can be examined is worth the trouble.
Howard
In these days since the Mark Pendleton hit-and-run tragedy, I have been watching for Chevrolet Silverado and 2500 Series pick-up trucks and SUVs that might be of interest in the investigation. On Thanksgiving Day, I spotted such a vehicle, with left front-end damage, including parts of its head lamp or turn signal missing and a dented front corner panel. In the darkness, it was impossible to determine if the damage was recent. The pick-up truck was occupied, with two passengers sitting in the front seat, at a San Francisco corner. San Francisco is 30 miles from Martinez.
I discretely circled the vehicle several times, memorizing the license plate number, doing my best to be inconspicuous. The vehicle was a Series 2500 Chevrolet pick-up, the model that was forerunner to the Silverado, and might likely share its chassis and trim. The license plates were dirty and difficult to read, which is said to be an indicator that somebody is hiding something. But then, the whole heap was a wreck. This pick-up truck needed that bumper stick, "If this was my horse, I'd shoot her."
I think the chances that my Chevy, more than 30 miles from the accident scene in a large city, is the Chevy that caused the accident, is a long shot. CHP is running a tip line, and they've surely checked leads much closer to Martinez and Port Costa.
To my surprise, the dispatcher on Thursday told me that the vehicle had been found, in Martinez. What great news, I told her. Do you still want the license number and description of the vehicle I saw in San Francisco? She didn't even take my name. I'm sure, with caller ID on my telephone, she knew that she could get back in touch with me later, but in any case, she didn't even take basic police report data from me.
I thought about logging on here at bikeforums.net to announce my news scoop, that the Martinez vehicle had been found. But I realized that this would be a bad decision. What if the dispatcher was passing along to me department gossip or rumors, not yet true, or information about an investigation in progress, but not completed? Most of all, I realized that funeral and memorial rides had not yet taken place, and that the Pendleton family might not be informed. I felt that if the vehicle or driver was known, despite the fact that a dispatcher had told me what might be private information, it was better that Mark Pendleton's family be told about any news through proper channels.
I watched the news closely, hoping to read about the discovery of the vehicle and apprehension of the driver. I hoped for this to occur by Saturday, when the Pendletons would be saying goodbye forever at a funeral, when riders from all over the Bay Area would be there to memorialize Mark.
But nothing had happened by Saturday. No vehicle identification had been announced. Finally, I called back CHP, where I got what seemed to be the same phone dispatcher. I explained the circumstances again, and this time she did take the license number of the Chevy truck I saw.
"Why do you think this truck was involved in the accident?" she asked me. I explained that I have no reason to suspect anything, other than that I had observed a truck of a similar model with the requisite front end damage and missing pieces of its headlight and turn signal systems. The one piece of information I didn't give the dispatcher was the ethnic identity of the two drivers in the pick-up truck's cab. She didn't ask me about them. They can ask me that later, if there is any reason to.
Why didn't the dispatcher take this information in the first place? I doubt it will have any bearing on the case. I am struck by the scarcity of Chevrolet pick-up trucks on San Francisco's streets, especially compared to Ford and Toyota trucks. The Bay Area does not love General Motors. Nevertheless, even in a mega-city the size of the Bay Area, there can be only a few hundred Chevy pickups and SUVs running around with missing parts from their left front turn signal assemblies. Each one outside the core area (Martinez) that can be examined is worth the trouble.
Howard
Last edited by metzenberg; 12-01-08 at 03:32 AM.
#30
Dolce far niente
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 10,704
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
14 Posts
..... The Bay Area does not love General Motors. Nevertheless, even in a mega-city the size of the Bay Area, there can be only a few hundred Chevy pickups and SUVs running around with missing parts from their left front turn signal assemblies. Each one outside the core area (Martinez) that can be examined is worth the trouble.
Don't know about "the city", but I can't swing a cat around here without hitting a Chevy Tahoe or pickup. They're everywhere.
__________________
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NorCal
Posts: 2,457
Bikes: Cervelo R3 (Force)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Its gotta be someone who has business or something in Crockett. Theres no other reason to be driving out on that road...
#33
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,001
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4336 Post(s)
Liked 2,977 Times
in
1,614 Posts
Google Street View captured a cyclist at almost the exact spot riding in the same direction (toward Hwy 4)
Reward is up to $10k now, that should make things interesting.
Reward is up to $10k now, that should make things interesting.
#34
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,001
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4336 Post(s)
Liked 2,977 Times
in
1,614 Posts
Update:
They got the bass tard.
They got the bass tard.
#35
Erect member since 1953
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Antioch, CA (SF Bay Area)
Posts: 7,000
Bikes: Trek 520 Grando, Roubaix Expert, Motobecane Ti Century Elite turned commuter, Some old French thing gone fixie
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 38 Times
in
21 Posts
Details!??!!??
#36
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,001
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4336 Post(s)
Liked 2,977 Times
in
1,614 Posts
#38
Erect member since 1953
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Antioch, CA (SF Bay Area)
Posts: 7,000
Bikes: Trek 520 Grando, Roubaix Expert, Motobecane Ti Century Elite turned commuter, Some old French thing gone fixie
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 38 Times
in
21 Posts
I've been a Google maniac since I read you post. I've got nothing.
I did see stories about the vandalism of his monument, which I didn't know about.
Damn. I didn't know him, but I ride that road. I hurt for his friends and family.
I did see stories about the vandalism of his monument, which I didn't know about.
Damn. I didn't know him, but I ride that road. I hurt for his friends and family.
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Posts: 888
Bikes: 2006 Cannondale Synapse carbon 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wow, I'm glad that even though it's been 6 months that this didn't just get forgotten about. Next maybe they'll find the driver of the silver bmw 7-series from that other hit and run.
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Haven't seen anything yet either. Our club just had a ride past the memorial site yesterday and we were saddened to still see the reward offer with no news of any progress.
Hope they have some good evidence.
Hope they have some good evidence.
#42
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Good catch Scott. It's encouraging that this somewhat cold case might get wrapped up - I always imagine that after the small burst of publicity that always accompanies these events these cases get "filed".
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
#43
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I have to say, this is a reason why I shy away from the many dark coloured/black jerseys that are out there - I like to have some bright colour to alert motorists when riding through the many shaded/tree lined roads we have here, even on a bright sunny day. Also part of the reason I have a white helmet.
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
#44
Erect member since 1953
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Antioch, CA (SF Bay Area)
Posts: 7,000
Bikes: Trek 520 Grando, Roubaix Expert, Motobecane Ti Century Elite turned commuter, Some old French thing gone fixie
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 38 Times
in
21 Posts
No no no no no. NO NO NO
We can't blame jersey color for he death of this man. It was a frickin hit and run.
No excuse.
NO
We can't blame jersey color for he death of this man. It was a frickin hit and run.
No excuse.
NO
#45
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
That was absolutely NOT my intent; but this probably isn't the best thread to have that discussion in - mea culpa.
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
#46
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,001
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4336 Post(s)
Liked 2,977 Times
in
1,614 Posts
We all want to remind each other to ride safely.
But this was a case of the murderer crossing in to the wrong lane to hit the victim head on and then leaving the scene.
CHP investigators said Pendleton was riding his Shimano road bicycle close to the shoulder when another vehicle, which was probably northbound, crossed into the southbound lane and struck him.
But this was a case of the murderer crossing in to the wrong lane to hit the victim head on and then leaving the scene.
CHP investigators said Pendleton was riding his Shimano road bicycle close to the shoulder when another vehicle, which was probably northbound, crossed into the southbound lane and struck him.
#47
Direct Hit Not Required
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Bruno, CA
Posts: 6,193
Bikes: Leopard DC1, Ridley X-Fire, GT Zaskar 9r
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
We all want to remind each other to ride safely.
But this was a case of the murderer crossing in to the wrong lane to hit the victim head on and then leaving the scene.
CHP investigators said Pendleton was riding his Shimano road bicycle close to the shoulder when another vehicle, which was probably northbound, crossed into the southbound lane and struck him.
But this was a case of the murderer crossing in to the wrong lane to hit the victim head on and then leaving the scene.
CHP investigators said Pendleton was riding his Shimano road bicycle close to the shoulder when another vehicle, which was probably northbound, crossed into the southbound lane and struck him.