A bicyclist was struck and killed by a vehicle Tuesday in Long Beach.
According to the Long Beach Police Department, the accident happened at 7:17 p.m. at the intersection of Atherton St. and Bellflower Blvd. The bicyclist, Susan E. Curtis, a 50-year-old female Long Beach resident, was struck by a Honda Odyssey van, driven by a 19-year-old male Los Alamitos resident.
The van driver was southbound on Bellflower Blvd. The bicyclist was westbound on Atherton St. Investigators with the Long Beach Police Department are reporting that the bicyclist ran a red light.
After the accident, the van's driver remained at the scene, rendered aid, and called paramedics.
Curtis was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deat at 11:17 p.m.
Bicycle accidents are all too common in Long Beach. Over the last five years, the number of bicycle accidents in Long Beach has increased. An analysis of Long Beach bicycle accident data collected since 2002 revealed that two of the top causes of bike-related accidents are:
- Motorist running a red light or stop sign, and
- Motorist turning left or right in front of a bicyclist
The top cause of Long Beach bicycle accidents caused by driver negligence is when a driver turns right in front of a bicyclist, cutting off the bicyclist.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bike accident that was the fault of a driver, speak with a Long Beach bicycle accident lawyer at our firm. Attorneys Daniel McGee and Catherine Lerer, a husband and wife team of personal injury attorneys, are available 24/7 to take your call. If you need a referral to a doctor in the Long Beach, Bellflower or Lakewood areas, we can arrange to have you treat with a medical provider on a lien basis (which means the doctor is paid when the case settles).