A 47-year-old bicyclist was killed in an Orange County car accident, which officials say, involved a hit-and-run driver, the night of December 13, 2011. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the bicycle accident occurred at the intersection of Serrano Road and Ridge Route in Lake Forest. Police say the male bicyclist was hit by a white van. The hit-and-run vehicle was last seen leaving the crash northbound on Serrano Road. The bicyclist was transported to a nearby hospital with massive head injuries. He was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Anyone with information about this fatal hit-and-run accident is asked to contact investigators at 855-847-6227.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased hit-and-run car accident victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 19 injuries reported involving bicycle accidents in Lake Forest. In Orange County as a whole, 12 people died and 1,199 were injured due to Orange County bicycle accidents.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash
If the details of this news account are accurate, the driver of the white van not only hit and critically injured the victim, but also left the scene with the victim lying on the roadway, exposed to further danger. Despicable! Under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) motorists are required to stop immediately at the scene of a crash, wait until authorities arrive, exchange pertinent information with the other parties and most importantly, get help for the injured victims. In this case, the driver chose to do none of the above.
Protecting Victims’ Rights
If you have information about this driver or the vehicle, please visit our dedicated hit-and-run web site at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and also become eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Families of hit-and-run victims would benefit immensely from a consultation with the best Orange County personal injury attorney, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. In cases where the hit-and-run driver is never identified or located, a knowledgeable attorney will be able to better advise the victim’s family about how they can seek compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of their own auto insurance policy.