In Yorba Linda, an 80-year-old Placentia bicyclist died on Wednesday when she was struck by a pickup truck. According to Brea Police, Edelgard Owens was in a crosswalk on East Imperial Highway and Prospect Avenue at around 5:40 pm when the deadly Orange County, California bicycle accident happened.
The driver of the pickup truck, a woman, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Further investigation, however, revealed that the driver was not driving under the influence when she allegedly struck Owens.
NHTSA 2008 Bicycle Accident Facts:
• 109 California pedalcyclist deaths
• 716 US pedalcyclist fatalities
• 52,000 pedalcyclist injuries
• The average age of pedalcylists who died last year was 41
• The average age of pedalcyclist injury victims was 31
• 13% of pedalcylists that died were younger than 16
• The majority of pedalyclist victims were males
• Alcohol was involved in 37% of pedalcyclist deaths
In sunny California, riding a bicycle is a popular activity, which increase the chances of Orange County, California bicycle crashes occurring. Bicyclist will usually just have their helmet and protective clothing to cushion them from the impact of colliding with a motor vehicle or the pavement (if the cyclist is thrown to the ground). Unfortunately, gear as protection is often not enough to prevent serious injuries or death.
Common Kinds of Bicycle Injuries:
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Facial injuries
• Road burns
• Fracture
• Broken bones
• Organ damage
• Head injuries
• Death
Common Bicycle Crash Scenes Involving Negligent Drivers:
• A motorist fails to yield
• A driver doesn't see the cyclist
• A car rear ends a bicycle
• A driver getting out of a car accidentally hits the bicyclist with the vehicle's door
80-year-old bicyclist dies after being hit by pickup, OC Register, October 21, 2009
Bicyclist and Other Cyclists, NHTSA 2008 Traffic Safety Facts (PDF)
Related Web Resources:
Bicycle Rules and Safety, California DMV
