Questions in the Deadly University City Crash Involving an SDPD Officer
In the three days since Walter Freeman was killed by a SDPD cruiser in University City, questions from the bicycling community have continued to roll in. The primary concern is that the officer in question may have been driving distracted. Freeman exited a driveway and crossed a bike lane and two other lanes of traffic, wearing a reflective vest and red helmet before being struck from behind by the cruiser, which according to the SDPD was traveling under the posted 45 m.p.h. speed limit.
Residents of the area said Freeman was an avid bicyclist who rode the area regularly, but witness statements claimed that Freeman moved left suddenly into the path of the cruiser, emphasizing a common misperception that bicyclists are erratic and unpredictable. But if Freeman was the experienced and safety-conscious bicyclist he seems to have been, it seems unlikely that his move reflected anything other than an assumption that a police car, of all things, would obey traffic laws and allow him to merge left.
As anyone who has been in a fender-bender knows, police typically assign fault in rear-end collisions to the driver in back for failing to yield or traveling at unsafe speeds. In this case, the officer claimed to not see Freeman until it was too late, but it seems that Freeman had done everything within his power to be seen. The SDPD was quick to label this fatality an "unfortuante accident" but the investigation is ongoing and we hope the department will provide more information about what exactly the officer was doing inside his car when Walter Freeman entered the roadway.
Bicyclist Killed in University City Crash with SDPD Car
LATEST: From the NBC7 broadcast news, we learn that the bicyclist (Walter Freeman) was likely moving left across the southbound lanes of Genesee Avenue to turn left onto Governor Drive when he was struck from behind by the police cruiser, also traveling southbound, apparently at the posted 45 m.p.h. Because the police car was traveling at non-emergency speeds, lights and siren were not activated. The officer stopped at the scene and called for emergency medical assistance.
UPDATE: We learn from NBC7 that the police car was traveling without lights or sirens and that the bicyclist was heading southbound on Genesee in the bike lane before moving to the left. We do not yet know whether the bicyclist was attempting to turn left onto Governor Drive, and we do not know in which direction the SDPD cruiser was traveling, or the rate of speed. We also do not yet know whether the bicyclist entered the intersection with or against the light.
A bicyclist was killed this morning when he was struck by a San Diego Police Department cruiser in University City. The crash occurred in the 3900 block of Governor Drive at the intersection with Genesee Avenue. According to SignOnSanDiego, the bicyclist was struck when he made a left turn directly in front of the patrol car. The police officer involved was responding to a call, but it is currently not known whether the car had its lights and sirens activated, or how fast it was traveling. We'll stay on top of the story and update as soon as there is more information.
See coverage of the story at SDNN and SignOnSanDiego.
Bikes for Kids Art Auction TONIGHT
Sorry for the late notice folks:
The Bike Art Spectacular will feature bicycle-themed art from all over the world, including England, Australia, Canada, and, of course, the U.S. The art will be displayed and sold at the reception on November 7th. In addition, the reception will include a silent auction, door prizes, drinks and appetizers. Remaining art not sold at the reception will be featured in a special eBay auction from November 9-16.
The auction will benefit Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids:
Established to honor Kimberlee Caledonia, a talented and avid cyclist from San Diego who died of brain cancer in 2008, Kimberlee’s Bikes for Kids distributes free bicycles, helmets and locks to underprivileged 1st - 3rd graders. In 2010 the foundation will distribute bikes, helmets and locks to children in San Diego, Lousiville, Indianapolis and Boston. For more information on the 501(c)(3) foundation, go to www.kimsbikes.org.
Visit their website for full event information.
Velodrome Swap Meet Tomorrow
All across San Diego, bicyclists are hopping up and down like anxious children who need to pee, because the annual San Diego Velodrome Association's Fall Swap Meet is happening tomorrow, November 8. Low cover, great deals, geeking out about shiny bicycle bits. Ooooh boy!
For all the details, see the webpage.