Bicyclist killed in collision with police officer
By THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
A 51-year-old bicyclist was killed in a collision with a Bakersfield police officer in the 200 block of H Street Friday afternoon.
Samuel Dohn Boyd, of Bakersfield, died at Kern Medical Center about an hour after the 12:46 p.m. crash, a coroner's office news release said.
Bakersfield police reported that Officer Peter Beagley and Boyd were both traveling north on H Street when Boyd turned left into the officer's path. Beagley was unable to stop and collided with the bike.
The collision is being investigated by the BPD's traffic division, and an administrative investigation is also underway, police reported. Beagley, a six-year veteran of the department, has returned to duty.
Ryan Cunningham, an employee at Iger Studio, located near the site of the collision, said that section of H Street is a tight squeeze for cyclists when cars are parked along the curb.
"I ride my bike to work but I stay on side streets as much as possible," Cunningham said. "On this street it seems like drivers get as close to you as they can."
Cynthia Villaleando, a hairdresser at nearby Modéle salon, said there have been six accidents on that section of H Street in the four years she's worked there. She said the street is too narrow for bicycles.
"Cars go through here way too fast," she said.
Jonathan Moo, a Safe Routes to School coordinator for the cycling advocacy group Bike Bakersfield, said every street in the city should be safe for cyclists.
"If everyone, cyclists and motorists, followed the rules of the road, we wouldn't have these fatalities," he said.
Unfortunately, cyclists are the ones who are usually hurt or killed in collisions with motor vehicles, Moo said, so it's critical that drivers in Bakersfield make a commitment to share the road.
"I'm a driver, too," Moo said. "And I know it doesn't take more than five seconds of your time to give a cyclist five feet on your right."
Yielding to a cyclist -- especially one trying to move left for a turn -- might add a few seconds to your commute, Moo said, but it's the right thing and the safe thing, to do.
Anyone with information regarding the collision is asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 327-7111.
Most CommentedMost Popular
We need an outside agency to investigate the attempted rescue of logger Bill Bennett, who died Sept. 23, 2011 in the mountains south of Tehachapi after being hit by a falling tree.
Rinna Johnson, 35, majored in liberal studies in college, got a master's degree in education and is about to receive her teaching credential. She's not exactly your stereotypical food stamp recipient.
In an attempt to address Kern County's alarmingly high rates of sexually transmitted disease and teen births, a new health initiative will let local teenagers order condoms online and receive the free shipment in the mail.
Petra Villanueva lives in Arvin and just like a good deal of its residents, she speaks mostly Spanish. A stay-at-home mom, Villanueva has become a well-known figure at school board meetings where board members cringe when she gets up to speak on issues important to the community.
UPDATED, 8:51 p.m.: Here are team scores after Day 1: Clovis 184.5 Bakersfield 152.5 Lemoore 100 Madera 96.5 Buchanan 93.5 Clovis West 91 Frontier 86 Madera South 80.5 Porterville 72 Sanger 66 Foothill 65.5 Edison 60.5 Central 51.5 Centennial 51 Bullard, Clovis East 50 And, finally, tomorrow morning's semifinal matchups: 106: (1) Miguel Martinez, Madera, vs. (5) Julian Gaytan, Clovis; (2) Adrian Camposano, Central, vs. (3) Matt Gamble, Monache 113: (1) Mason Pengilly, Porterville, vs. (5) Seth Hood, Monache; (2) Jonas Gaytan, Clovis, vs. (6) Jason Delacruz, Buchanan 120: (1) Daniel Gaytan, Clovis, vs. (5) Matthew Ontiveros, Central; (2) Brandon Rodriguez, Clovis West, vs. (6) Oscar Marin, Bakersfield 126: (1) Vicente Hernandez, Clovis, vs. (4) Izaiah Ozuna, Frontier; (2) Michael Knoblauch, Clovis West, vs. (3) Bryce Martin, Bakersfield 132: (1) Patrick Phaysamone, Clovis East, vs. (4) Martin Sandoval, Porterville; (2) Micah Cruz, Bakersfield, vs. (3) Matt Gay, Clovis 138: (1) Natrelle Demison, Bakersfield, vs. (4) Jason Ladd, Clovis; (3) Racelis Cardenas, Buchanan, vs. (7) Jose Hernandez, Madera South 145: (1) Maxx Ramirez, Bakersfield, vs. (4) Tyler Hartsfield, Liberty; (2) Oscar Corona, Foothill, vs. (3) Osamuyimen Osunde, Lemoore 152: (1) Isiah Martinez, Lemoore, vs. (4) Colby Thompson, Clovis; (2) Coleman Hammond, Bakersfield, vs. (3) Kyle Perreault, Clovis East 160: (1) Adrian Salas, Clovis, vs. Sebastian Suikowsky, Hoover; (6) A.J.
Rinna Johnson, 35, majored in liberal studies in college, got a master's degree in education and is about to receive her teaching credential.
UPDATED, 3:58 p.m.: The rest of the medal-round results, including a fourth meeting in 11 days between Frontier's John Popek and Centennial's Carson Crawford, this one with third place at heavyweight on the line.
Modesto-based Save Mart Supermarkets has acquired East Hills Mall from the lender that foreclosed on it late last year, according to county property records.