Bicycle Accidents

Published on: December 11, 2009

Victim of Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Fatally Injured

By Brian Chase

Donald Murphy, 49, died as a result of injuries he sustained in a Newport Beach car accident, when he was struck by a driver while riding his bike on northbound Jamboree Road near Ford Road. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, 37-year-old Patricia Ann Izquieta made an “unsafe turning maneuver” before hitting Murphy the morning of December 9, 2009. She then fled the scene of the accident. However, Newport Beach police located Izquieta minutes after the collision and arrested her on suspicion of hit-and-run.
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Published on: December 4, 2009

Riverside U.S. Postal Service Car Accident Kills Bicyclist

By Brian Chase

Miguel Ledezma, 37, was killed in a Riverside car accident after a U.S. Postal Service truck hit the bicycle he was riding. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the two vehicles were involved in a head-on crash, which occurred in a left-turn lane that was being shared by traffic from both directions along Florida Avenue. The fatal bicycle accident occurred the night of November 30, 2009 and Ledezma was pronounced dead later that night. Hemet police say the bicycle did have a light, but it was a small flashlight taped to the bike’s frame and pointed backward. The mail truck was apparently traveling at about 20 mph.
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Published on: November 20, 2009

Bicyclist Severely Injured in Orange County Truck Accident

By Brian Chase

Dalia Albert, 26, was seriously injured in an Orange County truck accident after her bicycle crashed into a semi-trailer the afternoon of November 19, 2009. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the big rig, driven by 29-year-old Juan Soto, was in the right lane of eastbound Edinger Avenue in Huntington Beach. He was apparently waiting at the light to turn right on Gothard Street. Albert was riding her bike east in the bike lane when the light turned green. Albert kept riding as the big rig turned right in front of her, Huntington Beach police said. She sustained several cuts and broken bones in her legs, but is said to be in stable condition. Police are still investigating this injury collision. Anyone who saw this accident is asked to call Huntington Beach Police at 714-536-5666.
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Published on: November 4, 2009

San Bernardino Car Accident Kills Bicyclist

By Brian Chase

Douglas Justin James Willison, 56, was killed in a San Bernardino bicycle accident after he was hit from behind by a pickup truck in Yucca Valley, The Press Enterprise reports. Willison was riding his bike along the 8100 block of Palomar Avenue the night of November 2, 2009 when he was rear-ended by the pickup truck. Willison died at the scene. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating this fatal collision.
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Published on: October 9, 2009

Bicyclist Injured in Ventura DUI Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Brock Warmuth, 22, was seriously injured in a Ventura County car accident after his bicycle was struck by a car the morning of October 6, 2009. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, Warmuth was riding his bicycle east along Bristol Road when a car driven by 48-year-old Cynthia Ginn hit him from behind. Warmuth was thrown off his bike. Ginn did not stop at the scene of the crash. A witness to the hit-and-run car accident followed Ginn while another person stopped and called 911 to help the injured bicyclist. Police arrested Ginn after they saw her passed out behind the wheel of her vehicle. She was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence and felony hit-and-run. Warmuth, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered major injuries and was taken to an area hospital.
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Published on: July 13, 2009

Los Angeles County Car Accident Caused by Drunk Driver Kills Bicycle Rider

By Brian Chase

Joseph Novotny, 43, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after he was struck on his bicycle by an alleged drunk driver on Bouquet Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest, The Signal reports. Two other bicyclists Rigoberto Himenez Jr. and George Munana Jr. sustained injuries that required hospitalization while two other suffered minor injuries. The fatal bicycle accident occurred July 11, 2009 when Marco Valencia, 20, traveling north on Bouquet Canyon, crossed the double yellow lines while making a left turn in the canyon roadway, California Highway Patrol officials said. Valencia’s pickup then struck a group of bicyclists including Novotny. After that, he apparently fled the scene of the collision. He also allegedly sideswiped a Hyundai, but the car’s driver was uninjured.

Novotny was pronounced dead at the scene. Himenez and Munana were taken to an area hospital. Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department officials located Valencia in his 2001 Ford F-150 pickup truck further north along Bouquet Canyon. Valencia is facing several felony charges including murder, driving under the influence causing death and hit-and-run causing death.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Joseph Novotny, who was tragically killed in this bicycle accident. I offer my deepest condolences to them. I also wish the two injured bicyclists the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers. Here was a group of bicyclists doing what they loved to do and they get hit by a guy who was apparently drunk on a Saturday morning. Tragic!
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Published on: June 30, 2009

Los Angeles County Bicycle Accident Kills Dad, Injures Son

By Brian Chase

Rodrigo “Rod” Armas, 45, died in a Los Angeles car accident. Armas and his son were on their way back to Malibu during the annual 200-mile Los Angeles Wheelmen “Grand Tour” event.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Rod Armas and his young son who is in the hospital with serious injuries. I offer my deepest condolences to Armas’ surviving family members, his wife Shelly Armas, his son and two daughters. Please keep this family in your prayers as they go through this difficult time.
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Published on: June 16, 2009

Bicycle Accident Spurs Concern about Dangerous Roadway Condition

By Brian Chase

Local residents in the Tamalpais Valley in the San Francisco area are crying out for better bicycle safety after 26-year-old Claire Diepenbrock suffered horrific injuries in a bicycle accident on May 26, 2009. According to a news report in the Marin Independent Journal, Diepenbrock was injured after she was hit by two cars while riding her bicycle in the busy stretch of Highway 1 near Tam junction. This roadway has apparently been the subject of numerous calls for speed limit signs and wider shoulders by community members over the years who believe a dangerous roadway condition exists on this roadway.

Community activists and local groups have been re-energized by Claire Diepenbrock’s bicycle accident and resulting injuries. Many have sent out letters seeking changes to local politicians as well the as the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Diepenbrock suffered multiple fractures to her skull, jaw, cheekbones and ribs, a broken clavicle and punctured lung. Doctors are still assessing the extent of her brain injuries and possible brain damage. However, she is said to be improving.

My heart goes out to the injured victim Claire Diepenbrock and her family members who are reeling from the shock of her terrible injuries. I hope and pray that she makes a complete recovery.
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Published on: June 8, 2009

Los Angeles County Bicycle Accident Injures Man

By Brian Chase

David Sotelo, 41, who suffered major personal injuries in a Whittier bicycle accident May 28, 2009, still remains in critical condition, the Whittier Daily News reports. California Highway Patrol officials recently contradicted an earlier report that had assigned fault for the car collision and are still looking into who may have been at fault for this bicycle accident. Sotelo was personally injured in the bicycle crash on Norwalk Boulevard north of Wadell Street. He was taken to an area hospital where he remains in critical condition.

CHP officials say the car-bike crash occurred as Sotelo was traveling southbound on Norwalk Boulevard in the northbound lane. He was traveling the wrong way. Sotelo then veered into the path of a Toyota RAV4 heading north. There were parked cars on the street and it seemed as if the bicyclist was trying to maneuver his way around the parked cars, officials said. The 56-year-old Whittier woman who was driving the SUV was not injured or cited.

My heart goes out to David Sotelo, who suffered critical injuries in this Los Angeles SUV-bicycle accident. I’m relieved that he did not suffer fatal injuries. I hope and pray that he makes a speedy and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there was one fatal bicycle accident and 26 injuries involving bicycle accidents reported in Whittier. In Los Angeles County, in 2007, 27 deaths and 2,902 injuries were reported as a result of bicycle accidents.
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Published on: June 2, 2009

Buena Park Bicycle Accident Involves Repeat DUI Offender

By Brian Chase

A Buena Park bicycle accident took the life of a young bicycle rider. Heather Elizabeth Azkoul, 31, of Anaheim who had two prior drunk driving convictions, has been found guilty of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and hit-and-run for crashing into and killing bicyclist, 41-year-old Virginia Cordier on January 23, 2007. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Azkoul had a blood alcohol level of 0.18 — more than twice the legal limit — almost 90 minutes after the Buena Park personal injury lawyer that killed Cordier.

Azkoul was apparently speeding in her 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass in the southbound lanes of Beach Boulevard near Knott’s Berry Farm when she rear-ended Cordier’s bicycle. Azkoul reportedly had two drunk driving convictions prior to this accident — in 2002 and 2004. She drove away after striking Cordier, but was apprehended by police after a tow truck driver spotted her. Personal injury attorneys defending Azkoul argued that Cordier was riding her bicycle in the darkness without lights or reflectors and that Azkoul did not cause the bike-car accident. But the jury didn’t buy it. Azkoul faces 20 years to life in state prison.

I’m glad that Cordier’s family has received the justice they deserve after waiting for three years in this case. I’m also glad the jury did not believe the defense’s argument that Azkoul, who was speeding and driving under the influence (at more than twice the legal limit), did not cause this fatal Orange County bicycle accident. I hope Azkoul is also held civilly responsible for Cordier’s death.
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