• 01
  • October
    2011

Bicyclists must be able to share the road with other vehicles. If another vehicle is driving negligently, bicyclists are placed in serious danger of physical harm, and in many cases wrongful death.

Recently, a 57-year-old California man died as a result of a car crashing into his bicycle from behind. The unsuspecting bicyclist was riding northbound on Highway 113 east of Vacaville.

Also heading northbound was a 21-year-old driver of a Hyundai Tiburon. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of the car struck the bicyclist from behind, causing the cyclist to endure catastrophic injuries that ultimately led to his untimely death.

The driver of the car says that he was unable to pass the cyclist because there was a vehicle approaching him in the southbound lane.

However, eyewitnesses to the fatal car accident say that the driver of the car could have driven around the bicyclist without placing anyone else in danger. The eyewitnesses also say that there was no indication that the cyclist swerved in front of the car causing the accident.

According to investigators at the scene of the accident, the driver's car was functioning normally and did not have any mechanical failures that could have contributed to the crash.

This fatal California accident remains under investigation. As of yet, no charges have been filed against the driver. Once the investigators have reached a determination as to the level of the driver's responsibility, charges may be filed.

Family members of the deceased victim will certainly be interested in learning the outcome of the investigation, which may help them to understand why this fatal accident occurred.

Source: Times-Herald, "Cyclist ID'd after fatal crash east of Vacaville," Catherine Bowen, Sept. 27, 2011