A 31 year old man was hit by a car and declared dead on the scene last night in Santa Cruz County, California. News and emergency dispatchers initially reported this as a solo bicycle crash before a driver arrived at the scene of the crash to say she hit the cyclist.
Google Streetview of crash location. Soquel San Jose Road has bike lanes on both sides of the road. The 35 MPH speed limit here is routinely ignored.
View Larger Map
The unidentified cyclist was walking or riding his cruiser bike southbound along Soquel San Jose Road near Oneill Lane in Soquel when he was hit from behind by the driver of a white Infiniti QX4 shortly after 10 PM. The driver fled the scene. A 33 year old woman driving the same car arrived on the scene 30 minutes later; she gave a statement to the CHP and passed a blood alcohol test. The CHP has not yet determined if this woman was the driver who struck the cyclist or not.
This is the third cyclist fatality in Santa Cruz County for 2011, and the second hit and run death.
How does a solo cyclist crash get hit from behind? I could see how a sideswipe could be mistaken – MAYBE.
I am also thinking the same as you are doing? the same question on my mind?
what is going on with this case? No news since it happened.
The initial info came from the CHP dispatch, which I imagine can be confusing for the dispatcher when getting information over the phone.
The only update in the news has been identifying the cyclist and a CHP report saying the bike seemed to lack lights and reflectors.
Bob, SC Sentinel just reported an arrest in this case.
The poor guy had fallen into the road and had been drinking.