Bicyclist Killed in Collision With Vehicle Last Night
Press release from Eureka Police Department:
On 10/01/2020 at about 11:04 pm, officers of the Eureka Police Department responded to the 2400 block of Broadway for a reported of vehicle vs. bicyclist collision.
Upon arrival, officers and Humboldt Bay Fire personnel located the bicyclist lying in the parking lot of an adjacent business just west of the roadway. The bicyclist was assessed by medical personnel and pronounced dead at the scene. Also located at the scene was the driver of the vehicle and multiple witnesses.
Preliminary results of the investigation, based on evidence at the scene and witness statements, indicate the bicyclist was traveling northbound on Broadway, between the fog line and the roads edge. The vehicle was traveling southbound on Broadway in the number two lane.
As the two vehicles neared each other, the bicyclist suddenly swerved into the number two southbound lane, directly in front of the vehicle. As a result, the bicyclist collided into the front of the vehicle. The bicyclist was ejected from his bicycle upon impact and landed in the nearby parking lot.
The driver of the vehicle was not believed to be under the influence and voluntarily submitted to an evidential blood draw. It is unknown if the bicyclist was under the influence when the collision occurred. Additionally, it was noted that at the time of the collision, the bicyclist was wearing all dark clothing, was not wearing a helmet and his bicycle was not equipped with the required lighting to be operated during darkness (pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 21201(d)1).
The identity of the deceased will be released by the Humboldt County Coroner’s office after notification of the next of kin.
This case is still under investigation and further updates will be released when appropriate. Anyone with information regarding this collision is urged to call Sgt. Greg Hill at 707-441-4355
Earlier Chapter: Coroner Requested After Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle on Broadway in Eureka
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So sad. Especially for the driver of the motor vehicle. This is a bicycling community and unfortunately safety is farthest from the minds of most. It is always the bicyclist who must ride in a manner that optimizes visibility and safety. Noone I know wants to hit and injure/kill an irresponsible cyclist.
While it might be true, including these words in the press release helps nobody:
“Additionally, it was noted that at the time of the collision, the bicyclist was wearing all dark clothing, was not wearing a helmet and his bicycle was not equipped with the required lighting to be operated during darkness”
I’d say that’s rather helpful. It reminds other cyclists that if they act like fucking idiots, such as wearing all dark clothes, not wearing a helmet, and not having lighting while riding on the highway at night, they’re a lot more likely to get creamed than if they used common sense, and thus less likely to ruin the days of innocent motorists.
Ride like a shadow and you might become one.
. I worked with that dude. He was riding home from work, we have to wear all black clothes as our uniform. Please be more respectful for those who knew him and his daughter.
Sorry Michael for the loss of your co-worker. Sad indeed.
Just because one has to wear dark clothing at work, doesn’t mean it’s mandatory while riding a bicycle at night. A headlight could have been a life saver in this situation, and I wear a bright jacket at night, along with reflective Velcro ankle straps and reflector pedals.
The up and down motion of reflective pedals and reflective ankle straps are a real attention getting devices with motorists at night, and are greatly effective in alerting drivers that you are a cyclist.
Bicyclist had front and back lights along with numerous reflectors, doesn’t drink, or do drugs.
Although I might have tried to say it more gently, I agree with Bushytails on this one.
RIP cyclist and peace to loved ones and the driver.
TheSteve: It may have hurt your feelings but pointing out something that others can do to avoid the same fate will be helpful to others.
I was curious what the driver of the car was wearing.
MAGA hat?
Sounds like a suicide. possibly side effects of drug use clouding judgement. Condolences to the family of the deceased and the people in the vehicle. It can be a life altering event to be the driver of the vehicle even if you are not at fault.
I sure would like to see barrier-protected bike lanes along Broadway. It would help keep bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers safe. Can’t suddenly swerve from the bike lane into oncoming traffic (or vice versa) if there’s an elevated planter box running the length of the street
Your kidding ? Yes ?
You can’t take a side street?
I am personally not even close to comfortable riding a bike on a street with heavy traffic.
Barrier protected bike lanes on Broadway? Yeah that’s a joke in of itself. I’ve rode bikes my whole life and you won’t catch me on Broadway at all. I’m safer on 101 really.
Around here, Broadway is 101.
I ride my bike a lot in Eureka. I wear a helmet and I have reflective lights and at night a blinking red light attached to my seat. And yet there are these idiots who love to drive their large, loud trucks with extended side mirrors too close to me. At times I can feel the wind from the mirror in my ears. These guys (they are always younger guys) think it’s funny. Especially on roads with little room for a bike to ride. I have heard their comments, “If there isn’t room stay off that road”. There are few roads that have adequate room for bikes. Even on 101 there is sometimes a reduced area for bikes. Mostly on bridges and on and off ramps. Highway 255 for example. The bridges are dangerous. And the off ramps to King Salmon and Fields Landing. Hookton Road. And my worst experience was on Elk River Road where it turns into in Ridgeway. A couple of young guys in a dark colored big Dodge truck ran me off the road. Luckily I hit a soft spot and as I looked up the two guys were laughing before they flipped me off.
This is why I record my commutes with front and rear 1080p HD video cameras, which is highly effective in obtaining license plate numbers and driver descriptions, and recording the incident as well.
Drive a car
This is very sad and condolences to everyone affected. The safer choice when bicycling with traffic is going with the flow of cars. Some choose to ride against the flow as they feel safer being able to see the cars coming towards them, but this is the more dangerous choice. Swerving in front of a car may result in injury regardless but your chances are better if the car is coming up behind you. A well designed city would have bike paths and lanes.
You see these asshats riding in and out of traffic in the dark w no lights all the time. Two days ago a biker pulled some similar shit and the result was a large truck rear ending a car in attempt to avoid the fool on the bike.
Don’t toke and ride. 🚬🚲
This public service announcement brought to you from the Coroner’s Office, Schwinn, and the Humboldt County Agricultural Alliance.
If you haven’t had some idiot in dark clothing on an low visibility bicycle swerve across Broadway near you then you don’t drive Broadway very often.
Bicycling well after dark on Broadway is an extremely dangerous proposition in the best of conditions. Crossing the roadway, especially if not at is street light cross street is the most dangerous move. Head and tail lights wheel reflectors, reflective clothing, please
Please respect the family and friends of the deceased and refrain from leaving comments in which you know nothing about or ones that are not helpful to anyone.
The comments explaining the correct way to ride a bike or assuming the biker was on drugs does not help anyone at this time and only cause more pain.
Thank you.
Another sad read. I don’t know why the bicycle rider swerved into the path of the oncoming vehicle. I am sorry that he died. Such a waste. My heart goes out to the vehicle driver who will have to live with that accident. I pray the bike rider will RIP, and the vehicle driver will at some point, be able to put this accident in a file, and close the drawer. May God Bless both of you.
LOVE AND PEACE FOR ALL
I would like the publisher of this article to please disable comments.
It is obvious that we have created a culture where in the absence of intelligence, judgement is a knee jerk.
Out of respect for the family, please disable and delete these comments.
Sam,
I am so sorry for your pain. Losing a loved one is so very hard. And comments meant for the general public are generally less sensitive than that meant for a family member which can rasp harshly on the raw emotions of someone who has lost someone they hold dear to their heart.
On an obituary, I monitor the comments closely but I have different rules for the other articles so people can freely discuss what is on their mind. Please check out the rules here and if you see any that you feel break the rules, comment underneath them with my name and I will remove them or edit if I agree that if the need to deal with them outweighs free speech. https://kymkemp.com/2018/05/20/commenting-rules-on-redheaded-blackbelt/