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A 20-year-old man (inset) was arrested for a hit-and-run bicycle crash at Salinas High School. (Photo: KSBW)

Police arrested a 20-year-old man Monday for a hit-and-run accident involving a 16-year-old Salinas High School student last week.

•   A high school student was walking his bicycle in a crosswalk when he was hit by a Ford Bronco.

•   The Bronco fled the scene.

•   A week later, police found the Bronco at another school. The driver confessed to the earlier hit-and-run accident and was arrested.

The bicycle accident occurred on Monday, April 29, according to a KSBW News report.

Salinas Police Officer Gerard Ross said the student, whose identity was not released, was walking his bicycle in a crosswalk on South Main Street near Acacia Street when he was struck by a Ford Bronco that fled the scene.

The student was hospitalized with multiple injuries on his body and face, Ross said.

Several witnesses called police to report that a Bronco that matched the description of the hit-and-run vehicle — it had a distinct red passenger door — was seen dropping off children at Mission Park School on the Friday following the accident.

On Monday, police saw the Bronco pull up at Mission Park School and questioned the driver, 20-year-old Brent Adams (pictured). Adams confessed that he was the driver in the hit-and-run accident involving the Salinas High School student.

Adams was arrested and booked into Monterey County Jail.

Monterey Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers

Eric Ringdahl (inset) was riding in the bike lane when he was struck and killed by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel in Carlsbad. (Photo inset; DMV)

Fatal bicycle accident: Police investigators believe a driver fell asleep at the wheel Sunday morning before he struck and killed a cyclist riding in the bike lane on El CaminoReal in Carlsbad.

•   A bicyclist was riding with a friend in the bike lane when he was struck and killed by a car.

•   The driver of the car said he was returning home from a graveyard shift and fell asleep at the wheel.

•   Investigators are checking phone records to find out if the driver was talking or texting when the accident happened.

The deadly accident occurred at 7:40 a.m. in the 7400 block of El Camino Real, according to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune.

Carlsbad police Lt. Kelly Cain said 45-year-old Carlsbad resident Eric Ringdahl was properly riding in the bike lane with a fellow rider when he was struck and killed by a car north of La Costa Avenue.

Ringdahl was married with children.

The motorist, whose identity was not immediately released, told investigators he was heading home after a working a night shift and fell asleep at the wheel. The motorist said that was when his car drifted into the bike lane.

Cain said police have no evidence to the contrary, but are checking the driver’s cell phone records to see if he was talking or texting at the time of the fatal bicycle accident. Police do not suspect that drugs or alcohol were involved.

Cain said police do not believe the driver intended to strike Ringdahl. Investigators are waiting for the medical examiner’s report, which could take more than a month. After that, the District Attorney’s Office will review the case and decide if the driver will be charged. He could face charges of  misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.

Carlsbad Bicycle Accident Lawyers

A 78-year-old man was killed in a bicycle accident in Moorpark.

A 78-year-old bicyclist was killed Thursday in a hit-and-run accident on Tierra Rejada Road near Highway 23 in Moorpark. The driver initially fled the scene.

•    An elderly bicyclist was riding on the shoulder of the road when he was hit from behind by a 20-year-old driver.

•   The bicyclist died at the scene.

•    The driver fled the scene but turned around and came back.

•    The driver was arrested on felony hit-and-run charges.

The fatal bicycle accident occurred at around 1:20 p.m., according to a Moorpark Patch news report.

California Highway Patrol officers said 78-year-old Simi Valley resident Bernard Cooper was riding a bicycle eastbound on the shoulder of Tierra Rejada Road when he was struck from behind.

Cooper died at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle — 20-year-old Nicolas Santiago of Ridgecrest – fled the scene but stopped about a mile and a half down the road, turned around, and returned to the accident site.

CHP officers arrested Santiago on charges of felony hit and run, according to a Ventura County Star report. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the accident.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

More than 600 cyclists were killed and an additional 52,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2010, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The vast majority (72 percent) of pedalcyclist fatalities occur in urban areas; 67 percent of those fatalities occur at non-intersections.

Share the Road

Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists.

The NHTSA urges motorists to be courteous—allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road, look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space, and yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals.

Be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.

Ride Safe

Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, dawn, and dusk.

To be noticed when riding at night, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.

Moorpark Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented bicycle accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A hit-and-run driver was arrested after striking and injuring a cyclist in Imperial Beach.

A suspected drunk driver was arrested Saturday in Imperial Beach after she fled the scene of a bicycle accident and then returned on foot.

•   A drunk driver hit a bicyclist near her home and then fled the scene in her vehicle.

•   The cyclist was hospitalized with serious injuries.

•   The hit-and-run driver returned to the scene on foot and witnesses identified her.

•   The driver was arrested for felony drunk driving and hit-and-run.

The hit-and-run crash occurred at  about 7:15 p.m., according to a CBS 8 News report.

San Diego County sheriff’s Lt. Scott Amos said a male cyclist, whose identity was not disclosed, was struck by a gold SUV at the intersection of 11th Street and Elm Avenue.

The driver fled the scene in her vehicle.

The bicyclist suffered serious injuries and was transported to UCSD Medical Center for treatment.

Witnesses called the sheriff’s office with information about the vehicle and the driver. While investigators were at the scene, the woman who had been driving the car returned to the scene on foot.

“Witnesses pointed that person out and deputies arrested them for felony drunk driving and hit-and-run,” Amos said.

The driver, who was identified as 49-year-old Linda Jean Stallings, lives on 11th Street very near the accident scene. Authorities did not say why she returned to the scene.

Imperial Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented drunk driving accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A bicyclist was hospitalized after being hit by a car in San Clemente. (Photo: David Bro | Orange County Register)

Bicycle accident: A female cyclist was hospitalized Monday after she was struck by a car at a dangerous five-way intersection in San Clemente.

•    A large car hit a cyclist and ran over her bike at a busy five-way intersection in San Clemente.

•    The cyclist was hospitalized.

•    Residents said the intersection is dangerous because there are no traffic lights and drivers often ignore stop signs. 

The accident occurred at about 9:45 a.m. at the ntersection of West Avenida de Los Lobos Marinos and South Ola Vista, according to a report in the Orange County Register.

San Clemente chief of police John Coppock  said 39-year-old Laguna Niguel resident Angela Peebles was riding a bicycle southbound on South Ola Vista when she was struck by a 1987 Chrysler.

The driver of the Chrysler was 90-year-old Janis Wyatt of San Clemente, Coppock said.

News photos show that the car ran over the bicycle and Peebles was knocked off. She was lying in the street when neighbors heard her screaming and ran out to see if they could help, according to resident Adriana Santini.

“We came out and she was just lying there howling,” Adriana Santini told the Register. Santini said Peebles was riding with her husband,

An off-duty county paramedic stopped to assist Peebles and waited with her until an ambulance arrived. The victim was transported to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo to be treated for injuries she suffered in the accident. Police called the injuries minor. (Minor injuries can include bone fractures, lacerations, strains and sprains, and many other injuries that are not life-threatening. )

Residents say the busy five-way intersection where the accident took place is dangerous because it is not controlled by traffic lights. Todd Snider, who has lived near the intersection for 27 years, told the Register that cars often speed through and ignore the stop signs.

Coppock said police would monitor the intersection but no specific plans for increased enforcement were planned. The accident is under investigation.

What is a minor injury?

Police and firefighter classifications of “minor injuries” can be misleading. Even a so-called “minor” injury may be far more serious than it initially appears and can have a major impact on the victim’s life. Some injuries aren’t even evident until days or weeks after an accident.

Injuries that are designated as “minor” may include whiplash, strains, sprains, lacerations, and bone fractures. All of these types of injuries may vary in severity.

* Whiplash, for example, is neck injury caused by sudden jerking or “whipping” of the head, as often occurs in car accidents, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It may not be noticed for several days, yet it can cause stiffness and numbness in the head, neck, back, shoulders, and arms. The initial symptoms may appear to go away and then return for months or even years, according to the NIH report.

* Strains and sprains are soft tissue injuries. Strains can cause pain, muscle spasms, swelling, and trouble moving the muscle, according to the NIH. Sprains involve pain, swelling, bruising, and being unable to move the joint. Initial treatment often requires taking time off work to rest the injury, sometimes followed by longer-term physical therapy.

* Lacerations include cuts, tears, and puncture wounds. A variety of factors determine how quickly a laceration may heal. Infection is always a risk with a laceration, and this risk can be particularly dangerous for diabetics. Even minor lacerations may cause permanent scars.

* Bone fractures are very common in car accidents. They can be extremely painful, and may involve swelling, bruising, or bleeding as well as numbness, tingling, and the inability to move a limb. Some fractures require surgery to implant plates, pins, or screws to keep the bone in place. The impact of a fracture on daily activities is immediate and often disabling. Follow-up surgery and physical therapy may stretch the recovery period to months.

San Clemente Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented bicycle accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

Police arrested a teen driver for a hit-and-run accident that killed another teen in Rancho Santa Fe (San Diego County).

A 19-year-old driver was arrested Sunday night for a hit-and-run accident that killed an 18-year-old bicyclist Friday morning in the North San Diego community of Rancho Santa Fe.

•   A 19-year-old driver drifted off the side of the road into the bike lane and struck an 18-year-old bicyclist. 

•   The bicyclist died. The driver fled the scene.

•   Neighbors alerted police to the car with damage matching the description of the accident, and police arrested the 19-year-old.

The fatal bicycle accident occurred at about 1 a.m., according to a report in the North County Times.

California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Parent told the Times that 18-year-old Angel Bojorquez of Escondido was riding his bicycle northbound on Via de la Valle toward Paseo Delicias when a vehicle drove up behind him, drifted onto the right shoulder (the bike lane) and struck him.

Bojorquez had been riding home from his job as a grocery clerk at an Albertson’s grocery store in Del Mar. The driver of the vehicle that fatally struck Bojorquez fled the scene and left him to die. A private Rancho Santa Fe security officer discovered Bojorquez’s body at about 2 a.m. by the side of the road.

Neighbors of 19-year-old San Diego resident Jin Jyuk Byun tipped off police that Byun’s car, a black 2008 Chevy Avalanche, had damage consistent with reports of the deadly hit-and-run crash.

Parent said an investigator spoke with Byun at his home on Sunday night, but he refused to cooperate. Officers obtained a  search warrant, arrested him on felony hit-and-run charges, and booked him into the county jail.

UPDATE:

At Byun’s arraignment on Wednesday, prosecutors said that Byun pulled off the road after he hit Bojorquez and tried to hide evidence, according to a Fox 5 News report. Prosecutors further alleged that Byun tried to cover up some of the damage to his Chevy Avalanche and then drove to his parents’ house on a flat tire and tried to hide the Avalanche in their garage.

Byun pleaded not guilty. His bail was set at $1 million.

San Diego Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented hit-and-run accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A cyclist remains in critical condition after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Sonoma County.

Hit-and-run accident: A 68-year-old driver who fled the scene after he hit a cyclist in Penngrove late last week appeared in Sonoma County Superior Court Wednesday to postpone his arraignment. The victim remains hospitalized in critical condition.

•   A pickup truck swerved off the roadway, hit a cyclist on the paved shoulder, and didn’t stop or even slow down.

•   The cyclist was critically injured and remains in a coma.

•   The hit-and-run driver was later arrested on felony hit-and-run charges. 

The bicycle crash occurred last Friday, shortly after 8:30 a.m., according to a report in the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.

California Highway Patrol Officer Eric Hill said that 68-year-old Steve Norwick, a retired Sonoma State University environmental studies professor, was riding his bicycle southbound on the paved right shoulder of Petaluma Hill Road when he was struck from behind near East Railroad Avenue.

Based on physical evidence and witnesses’ statements, CHP investigators believe that 68-year-old Robert Cowart of Rohnert Park was driving his Dodge Ram pickup truck when he drifted onto the shoulder, hit Norwick, and kept driving without stopping.

Norwick was riding with his friend Rolfe Erickson, a retired geology professor. Erickson was about 10 feet ahead of Norwick when the accident happened. He said the truck never even slowed down, and had to veer back onto the roadway to avoid hitting him as well.

The impact knocked Norwick down an embankment and into a drainage ditch. He was unresponsive when firefighters arrived, according to Rancho Adobe Fire Captain Pete Albini.

Norwick suffered life-threatening catastrophic injuries to his head, spine, and kidneys, CHP officer Kerri Post told ABC News. He remains in a coma at the Intensive Care Unit at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

The collision left telltale damage to the truck, according to the Press-Democrat:

The impact sheared off the truck’s right side mirror and knocked out its front right headlight, leaving evidence at the scene that helped investigators piece together a description of the suspect’s vehicle.

CHP investigators said there was absolutely no way that the driver would not be aware that he hit someone, but Cowart did not come forward. Later that day, two off-duty law enforcement officers who live in Cowart’s neighborhood — CHP Officer Robert Powers and Rohnert Park Public Safety Sgt. Jeff Nicks –saw him drive up to his home in the damaged truck.

Nicks said Cowart “spoke matter of factly” about having hit a cyclist on the way to work but he said the cyclist was not hurt. He said the cyclist had been riding in the middle of the road when he hit him. He also said he stopped to check on the cyclist and thought he was OK.

The officers, who already were familiar with some of the details of the accident, initiated an arrest on charges of felony hit-and-run. Later Cowart changed his story and admitted that “he never stopped,” because he was late for work, Hill said. He was booked into jail and released on $30,000 bail.

When Cowart appeared in court Wednesday, he was in a wheelchair and appeared frail and unsteady, according to updated reports in the Press-Democrat, the Community Voice, and CBS News. His attorney said he had recently had a stroke and an aneurysm that may be impairing blood flow in his brain.

Deputy District Attorney Troye Shaffer said Cowart had three prior DUI arrests — two in 1989 and one in 2005 — and asked the judge to raise bail to $100,000. The arraignment will resume on Monday.

Regardless of what happens in Cowart’s criminal trial, the victim and his family will retain the legal right to be compensated for his injuries.

Sonoma County Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented bicycle accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A bicyclist died after being hit by several cars on Balboa Avenue in San Diego. (Photo: San Diego Union-Tribune)

Fatal bicycle accident: A cyclist died Thursday morning after being hit by several vehicles on Balboa Avenue in the Clairemont district of San Diego.

•   A cyclist was hit by an SUV and thrown off of his bike.

•   At least two other cars hit him while he was lying in the road.

•   He died at the scene.

The accident occurred at around 7 a.m., according to a Channel 6 News report.

San Diego Police said the cyclist — later identified by the county coroner as 29-year-old David Ortiz of Pacific Beach — was riding a ”black, road-style bicycle” eastbound on Balboa Avenue, over Interstate 805, when he was struck by a blue Ford Expedition.

The impact knocked Ortis off of his bicycle and he rolled onto the road. He was then hit by two other cars in different lanes. The last car ended up on top of the Ortiz’s body, according to an NBC News report.

Ortiz was wearing a helmet but it was destroyed when he was hit by the cars. He died at the scene.

There is no bike lane on Balboa Avenue where Ortiz was struck, but it appears he was in the correct area where he should’ve been biking, San Diego Police officer Mark McCullough said. It was not immediately clear if the area where his body was found is where he was biking when he was hit by the first vehicle.

Police were looking for the driver of the Expedition. Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information about it is urged to contact Detective John Letteri of the Traffic Investigation Unit at 858-495-7806.

Bicycle Crash Statistics and Safety Reminders

Almost 650 bicyclists are killed an another  51,000 injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes every year, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The vast majority of those deaths — 70 percent — occurred in urban areas, during daytime hours (between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m.).

Because so many cars don’t look for bicycles on the road, or don’t see them until the last minute, the NHTSA suggests that bicyclists ride defensively. Motorists and bicylists are reminded of these safety tips:

• Bicyclists should always wear properly fitted helmets. A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.
• Bicyclists are are required to obey the same rules of the road as cars and trucks, so be sure to ride in the
• same direction as traffic.
• Cars and trucks must share the road with bicyclists. Allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road, look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space, and yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals.
• Drivers should be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.
• Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers in every way possible. Wear fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, dawn, and dusk. Use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.

San Diego Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented bicycle accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

Hit-and-run bicycle accident: Police have arrested a driver who hit a 13-year-old girl and left her lying on a Santa Ana street.

Felony hit-and-run: A 65-year-old Fountain Valley man was arrested Tuesday after he struck a 13-year-old girl on her bicycle in Santa Ana last week and fled the scene.

•   A sixth-grade girl was riding her bicycle in a crosswalk when she was hit by a car and severely  injured.

•   The driver fled the scene, but came forward a week later and was booked on felony hit-and-run charges.

•   The victim, who was initially in critical condition but is now home recovering, said she forgives the man who hit her. 

The bicycle accident occurred  at about 7 p.m. on February 6 according to an NBC News report.

Santa Ana police said 13-year-old Teresa Pham was riding her bicycle northbound on Greenville Street when she attempted to cross Warner Avenue  in a crosswalk. A car that was driving westbound on Warner Avenue struck Pham and fled the scene.

“The driver fled the scene, making no attempt to stop or check on the condition of the injured girl,” said Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna told the Los Angeles Times.

Several motorists stopped to try to help the teen as she lay in the street in extreme pain. Pham suffered major injuries, including a broken leg, multiple fractures, internal injuries, and severe injuries to her face. She was hospitalized in critical condition.

Bertagna later said the the suspect, Arif Abdul Sattar, reportedly returned home and told his family that he had been involved in a collision. After his family saw an ABC News report about the accident, they urged him to surrender to police.

“The family was advised by the suspect that he was possibly in an accident. They saw the story and got an attorney and came forward,” Bertagna said.”Through negotiating with the attorney, the suspect in this case has surrendered himself as well as the vehicle as being involved in this accident.”

Sattar was booked on felony hit and run charges and was released on bail Wednesday, Bartagna said. The little girl he injured said she forgives him.

“Maybe he has a family,” Pham said. “I don’t really know what’s happening in his life, but maybe he’s dealing with stuff,” she said.

When asked what she would say to Sattar if she had a chance, the sixth-grader said, “I would say, ‘God bless you.’”

Santa Ana Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented bicycle accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

Fatal Bicycle Accident: A 9-year-old girl died after being hit by a van while crossing a street in Stockton.

Fatal bicycle accident: An 9-year-old girl died Friday morning after being struck by a van Thursday afternoon while she was trying to cross a Stockton street on a motorized bicycle.

•   A little girl was either walking or riding a motorized bicycle in a crosswalk when she was hit by a van.

•   The bike caught fire. The girl suffered severe burn injuries and head trauma. 

•   The victim was airlifted to a hospital where she died several hours later.

•   Police are trying to determine whether the van ran a red light or could not see because of bright sunlight.

•   It is illegal for children to ride motorized bikes. The mother could be charged.

The deadly accident occurred at about 5:20 p.m., according to an article in the Stockton Record.

California Highway Patrol Officer Angel Arceo said the little girl, later identified by the coroner’s office as Julianna Radilla, was in the crosswalk at East Main Street and South Wagner Avenue when the accident happened.

There were several people in the crosswalk, Arceo said. The little girl was either riding or walking a small, motorized bicycle and was attempting to cross the street on a green light.

A Chevrolet Astro minivan, driven by a 23-year-old woman whose name was withheld pending investigation,  was traveling westbound on East Main Street and may have run a red light before striking the little girl, Arceo said.

The gas-powered Yamaha bicycle caught fire on impact. The little girl suffered major head injury and severe burn injuries on her legs, chest and arms. The bike was still in flames more than 150 feet from the girl when emergency crews arrived.

Paramedics worked desperately to save the little girl as a REACH helicopter landed on the soccer field at nearby Wilhelmina Henry Elementary School. The victim was airlifted to the trauma unit at U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where she was listed in critical condition. She died at the hospital at about 2 a.m., Arceo said.

Determining responsibility in this accident will be tricky, authorities said. There are a number of factors to be considered.

It’s not yet certain who had the right of way. Investigators have not yet determined if the van, which was traveling at a rate of speed between 30 and 40 mph, ran a red light.  The driver could face charges of involuntary manslaughter if she’s deemed responsible for the crash. But the driver did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and did not appear to be exceeding the speed limit, Arceo said.

The driver told officers she didn’t see anyone in the crosswalk, according to a KCRA News report. Arceo said visbility is limited at that intersection when the sun is setting, which is when the accident took place.

“The sun was going down towards where the van was traveling. So, we aren’t sure if that had anything to do with it,” Arceo said.

“It’s scary because a lot of cars, they don’t stop,” said local resident Yolanda Segura, who heard the accident and ran out of her house. Segura said the intersection is dangerous and many local residents are concerned for the safety of their own children.

An additional factor investigators are considering in the tragic accident is the fact that it is illegal for children to ride motorized bikes. According to a KCRA News video, the little girl’s mother could face charges if she knowingly allowed her daughter to ride the motorbike.

Here are more photos from the accident scene. Click on a thumbnail to see it larger.

Stockton Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented bicycle accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.