Bicyclist suffers serious head injuries in hit-and-run
City News Service – April 20, 2021
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Police Tuesday were searching for a hit-and-run driver who struck and seriously injured a bicyclist while she was riding on a Pacific Beach street. The incident happened shortly after 10:20 p.m. Monday on Ingraham Street near Fortuna Avenue, south of Grand Avenue, San Diego police Officer John Buttle said.
A 39-year-old woman was riding her bicycle southbound on Ingraham Street when she was struck from behind by an unknown driver behind the wheel of a dark, four-door SUV, Buttle said. The impact ejected the victim from the bicycle and she fell to the ground face down, the officer said. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries, including a fractured skull and a “major brain bleed,” Buttle said.
The suspect was last seen heading southbound on Ingraham Street and the suspect vehicle sustained front end damage, he said.
Anyone with information about the crash or the location of the suspect vehicle is asked to call SDPD’s traffic division at 858-495-7805 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
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Former Portlander Lindsay Caron seriously injured
by hit-and-run driver while biking in San Diego
Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) April 23rd, 2021 bikeportland.org
Lindsay Caron is in a San Diego hospital after being hit from behind by a driver while riding her bike on Monday. The collision caused life-threatening injuries and Lindsay is still at the hospital. A friend who set up a Facebook support group for Lindsay said she’s in a medically-induced coma and is scheduled for several surgeries.
Lindsay lives in Seattle and is a prodigious traveler and adventurer who attended Portland State University from 2009 to 2012. When not working toward her environmental studies degree, she was active in the cycling scene. In 2010 she wrote a few stories for BikePortland. In 2011 she earned a professional development grant from Portland Society.
Portland resident Joe Kurmaskie was a friend of Lindsay’s. He wrote on Facebook yesterday that he worked on traffic safety advocacy with her. “She’s always full of great ideas, a real caring person with a spark in her eyes — a happy warrior for good things.”
In an Instagram update posted March 9th, Lindsay shared what cycling meant to her:
“Grateful everyday that somehow at 19 a girl friend gave me a bicycle, and I started bike commuting. Grateful every day that such a simple thing – riding a bike – is such an easily accessible source of joy, strength, peace, fun, health, clarity, and grounding. Grateful for the way this simple machine has changed my life – and empowered women throughout history.”
Cycling advocates in San Diego say the stretch of road where Lindsay was hit is “is extremely dangerous” for people on bikes. A look at Google Street View shows a multi-lane street with parking on both sides and no dedicated space for cycling. “It’s time for @CityofSanDiego to take #VisionZero seriously,” said one advocate on Twitter yesterday.
I am heartbroken by this news. And I’m sick and tired of how so many drivers and city planners show absolutely zero regard for the safety of anyone outside of a car.
Please think good thoughts for Lindsay.