Martinez bicyclist killed in hit and run

[Spiduhman]

...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."

[redspoke]

Mark Pendleton Memorial

http://www.ebbc.org/?q=node/2643

.

His Wife's words at the bottom brought tears to my eyes.

[metzenberg]

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

[Knubby]

Good observation on your part. Every reliable lead should be checked in to.

[bigbossman]

..... 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.

[Val23708]

Its gotta be someone who has business or something in Crockett. Theres no other reason to be driving out on that road...

[cantdrv55]

Its gotta be someone who has business or something in Crockett. Theres no other reason to be driving out on that road...

Target practice, apparently.

[DiabloScott]

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.

[DiabloScott]

Update:

They got the bass tard.

[cccorlew]

Details!??!!??

[DiabloScott]

Details!??!!??

Sketchy at the moment - but cops got a tip.

Some guy in his 50's, vehicle matched the bits left at the scene, evaded detection by doing his own repair.

Still looking for a news story about it.

[chrisoco]

Accidents happen, but this is murder.

[cccorlew]

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.

[silentben]

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.

[prathmann]

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.

[jonathanb715]

I hope there's enough evidence to let the system do what it's supposed to do!

JB

[Beaker]

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".

[Beaker]

...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.

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.

[cccorlew]

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

[Beaker]

That was absolutely NOT my intent; but this probably isn't the best thread to have that discussion in - mea culpa.

[DiabloScott]

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.

[BlastRadius]

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.

Dang, I didn't know about that bit. Hang him.

[Spiduhman]

It was a frickin' hit and run.

Agreed.

Condolences to friends and family.


For those of us that remain, continuing LO's thoughts regarding lighting, consider visibility in general as per above.

I don't read any post in this thread suggesting otherwise.

[benjdm]

Still looking for a news story about it.

I found this.

[HIPCHIP]

I found this.

Just noticed, this story is from Nov 25th. Kept wondering why folks were taking about it being dark a 5PM.