Bike Fatality on Hawthorne Blvd
10-23-08, 12:42 PM
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Bike Fatality on Hawthorne Blvd
https://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_10789921
Torrance Police are hoping to hear from witnesses to a bicycle crash that killed a man in Torrance.
George Kammerer, 44, of Torrance died after he lost control of his bike in the 24400 block of Hawthorne Boulevard at 1:45 p.m. Saturday.
Police said he was coming down a hill and hit a street sign.
Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call detectives at 310-618-5557.
Torrance Police are hoping to hear from witnesses to a bicycle crash that killed a man in Torrance.
George Kammerer, 44, of Torrance died after he lost control of his bike in the 24400 block of Hawthorne Boulevard at 1:45 p.m. Saturday.
Police said he was coming down a hill and hit a street sign.
Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call detectives at 310-618-5557.
10-23-08, 01:12 PM
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I guess the good thing here is hopefully it wasn't caused by a driver. Other than that...sucks!
10-23-08, 04:13 PM
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Actually I think the police think it was caused by a driver who essentially forced the cyclist into the sign.
10-23-08, 04:57 PM
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Then that certainly changes my opinion on the matter if that's turns out to be what happened.
10-23-08, 10:03 PM
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He should have been on a slight downhill grade if he was on 24400 Hawthorne Boulevard. That's well past the hills and curves where you can hit 45+mph (same as the avg speed of the cars) and closer to PCH, so his speed shouldn't have been too high. Figure he got buzzed/squeezed and the natural reaction is to try to get out of the way/create more space, possibly clipped a parked car and lost control or was punted from behind and thrown off his bike into a "street/stop sign", which would place him in a side street intersection or business driveway. There's more to this story than the Police description and why they want witnesses to come forward. Only thing that bothers me down that street is the cars/trucks from the side streets or driveways that usually aren't looking for bikes, and they just roll through and hit the gas if they think it's clear.
10-23-08, 10:13 PM
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this is very close to my house. i rarely see cyclists coming down or going up this section probably due to what the poster above me wrote, there is very little room with parked cars on the side and cars travel VERY fast in this section.
although i should be surprised that no witnesses have come forward i am not. its a shame that people today see things and people in need and do nothing to help. very sad
although i should be surprised that no witnesses have come forward i am not. its a shame that people today see things and people in need and do nothing to help. very sad
10-23-08, 10:49 PM
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this is very close to my house. i rarely see cyclists coming down or going up this section probably due to what the poster above me wrote, there is very little room with parked cars on the side and cars travel VERY fast in this section.
although i should be surprised that no witnesses have come forward i am not. its a shame that people today see things and people in need and do nothing to help. very sad
although i should be surprised that no witnesses have come forward i am not. its a shame that people today see things and people in need and do nothing to help. very sad
I really don't get how people can simply turn their cheek the other way. This occurred in broad daylight so you know people saw something.
10-24-08, 01:32 AM
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Even when I'm out on the SART and I see someone by themselves with a flat I'll usually give a hollar on my way by asking if everything is ok...i.e. do you need anything? I figure that's the least I can do to extend a friendly hand. If I saw someone tumbling off their bike like what this accident had to of looked like I don't think I have such a bone in my body to ignore it. I may not touch the person so I didn't injure them further but I'd be there trying to keep them conscious or whatever until the paramedics arrived.
I really don't get how people can simply turn their cheek the other way. This occurred in broad daylight so you know people saw something.
I really don't get how people can simply turn their cheek the other way. This occurred in broad daylight so you know people saw something.
10-25-08, 11:52 PM
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I live close to where that happened...sad to hear that. I have my doubts that he randomly lost control, I wouldn't be surprised if he was squeezed to the side by a car. I did no more than 30mph coming down from there, probably more along the lines of 23-25 because the roads are pretty crappy right there.
I've come down from PV that way once, and only once, and it's something I will never do again. Not only does it take you into a spot where it's pretty damn busy. PCH is like a freeway right there, and Hawthorne is just as bad. But like others have mentioned that road is too narrow with the cars parked on the side.
I've come down from PV that way once, and only once, and it's something I will never do again. Not only does it take you into a spot where it's pretty damn busy. PCH is like a freeway right there, and Hawthorne is just as bad. But like others have mentioned that road is too narrow with the cars parked on the side.
10-26-08, 09:11 PM
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My condolences to Mr. Kammerer family. I am sorry for their loss. I hope he was taken quickly and did not suffer.
As to that section of road. I just road it two weekends ago. You just have to ride that section like all the other sections of road like it, take up the whole lane. If cars don't like it then they can go around. There is no bike lane and there are parked cars on the right. Any one of those car doors could open at any moment. I for one am not trying to get hit by a door just so a car can easily pass me. If the want to pass then change lanes.
As to that section of road. I just road it two weekends ago. You just have to ride that section like all the other sections of road like it, take up the whole lane. If cars don't like it then they can go around. There is no bike lane and there are parked cars on the right. Any one of those car doors could open at any moment. I for one am not trying to get hit by a door just so a car can easily pass me. If the want to pass then change lanes.
