Santa Ana, CA – Bicyclist Hospitalized After Hit-and-Run Crash at Bushard St & Columbus Ct
Santa Ana, CA (July 7, 2023) – At around 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, officers from the Fountain Valley Police Department arrived at the intersection of Bushard Street and Columbus Court in response to reports of a serious vehicle crash.
Early reports indicate that a bicyclist was headed north on Bushard Street, riding inside the bike lane, when he was hit by an unidentified car.
The bicyclist, a Huntington Beach man in his 20s, sustained major injuries and was taken to a local hospital. His current condition remains serious yet stable.
Parts of the vehicle involved were left behind as the unidentified driver fled the scene.
Investigators from the FVPD said their preliminary information suggests a 2014 to 2019 Toyota Highlander was involved in the incident.
The FVPD Traffic Bureau requests that witnesses who saw the accident contact them. An investigation is ongoing in the meantime.
Our thoughts and hopes for a full recovery go out to the injured victim and their family members.
Bicycle Accidents in Orange County
According to the most up-to-date data available, one bicyclist is killed in Orange County on average per month due to a collision with a motor vehicle. In fact, during the previous two years, the number of fatal bicycle accidents in Orange County has increased by almost 50%. More and more Golden State residents are choosing to ride bicycles as a mode of transportation for their daily commutes, particularly when it comes to environmental and financial concerns.
In addition, several municipalities in Orange County have improved their cycling infrastructure by adding bike lanes and trails. All of this has contributed to a rise in the popularity of cycling as a form of sustainable transportation. That said, cyclists are more at risk for death or severe injury in the case of a collision, and as a result, it’s vital that other motorists treat them with additional caution and respect on the road.
Tragically, bicycle accidents occur all too often throughout our state. Per statistics released by the California Highway Patrol, there were 11,689 documented bicycle accidents in California in one recent year alone, leading to nearly 10,000 injuries and 155 deaths. What’s more, the frequency of bicycle accidents in California has been steadily increasing over the last decade. Between 2010 and 2019, the death toll from these incidents rose by 25%.
And unfortunately, the majority of Orange County cyclists killed in vehicle accidents are hit at intersections, according to case studies of fatal incidents. Intersections and multi-lane roadways are especially dangerous for cyclists, even when these areas have proper bike lanes.
With this information, motorists and cyclists should take extra precautions. Accident prevention is the most important factor in preventing these grim facts and figures from worsening year after year.
But if you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident that’s occurred through no fault of your own, you should consult an experienced attorney right away. Here at Russell & Lazarus, we prioritize our clients’ needs above all else. Contact our Santa Ana bicycle accident lawyers at (888) 539-3154 if you need advice after suffering injuries or the loss of a loved one in a bicycle accident. We’ll stop at nothing to fight for the justice that you and yours deserve.
Note: This post was created through the use of secondary sources such as state and local news sources, police accident reports, social media platforms and eyewitness accounts about serious injury accidents that take place in Orange County. The facts surrounding this accident have not been independently verified; therefore, if any information is incorrect, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Russell & Lazarus APC, Personal Injury Lawyer, so we can update the post with the most accurate information available. We will remove this post upon request.
Disclaimer: This is not a solicitation for business. None of the information in this post is intended to be medical or legal advice. The photo used in this post was not taken at the actual accident scene.