Bicyclist's Death Leaves Many in Campbell Shocked

A 59-year-old cyclist was killed on San Tomas Epressway Tuesday when a Gold Toyota Camery struck him.

The collision happened in the late morning and many Campbell residents who were in the area were unsettled by the fatal crash.

On Facebook:

"Breaks my heart. This happens way too often. I see people daily riding bikes on the wrong side of the road or at night with no lights. Bikes are too dangerous with all these cars around." --Amanda Jo Fisk

"I saw the accident and it was absolutely horrible." --Leslie Moody

"Are bikes allowed on San Thomas?" --Cisco Ortega

"So heartbreaking. It was smart thinking of her father to bring her right back to the scene." -- Christie Jensen-Balancier 

"My heart just sank ... I drove by it too and saw a lot of blood on the ground and just prayed everyone was okay ... I'm so sorry to hear this ... my thoughts are with everyone ..." --Melissa Casaretto

"Saw this crime scene when driving back from lunch. Traffic at the time was limited to one lane. Yellow fatality tarp, victim's belongings and debris scattered around the victim. People could see the crime scene from the walk bridge just above. Looked bloody. Sad day as this was close to the hit and run accident which took another life not too long ago. Glad the driver was caught." --Danny B. Acevedo

"If I can help the family of this cyclist in any way, let me know Mayra. As you remember, I was in a scary bicycle accident myself ...... I survived though. It sounds high speed was involved here if I have to guess (or texting while driving??). San Tomas Expressway offers a wide bicycle lane on both sides of the road." Isabel Barrios

"I am so heartbroken over this. I echo Isabel's sentiment about helping the family. Please let us know if there's an account that we can donate to, or anything else that we can do. I wish that there was a brilliant PSA campaign to wake up the masses about the dangers of distracted driving/especially texting, etc. (since, according to witnesses, this driver swerved into the shoulder -- she must have been distracted by something). Also, thank you, Mayra Flores de Marcotte, for posting the link in the article comments to the bike safety series. Very helpful! I am reposting it here:http://campbell.patch.com/columns/bikeable-campbell" --Kavita Ramani 

"This makes my stomach turn. I am guessing that texting was involved. It is the middle of the day, there is no "commuter" traffic,, there is a bike lane. Just tragic." --Catherine Stanton Hickinbotham 

"I drove by this after leaving school and it was a bad scene. So sad!" --Katie Nicholas Reyes

Campbell Patch previously ran this series on bicycling in Campbell that discusses routes and safety.

Campbell's Bicycle Advisory Committee has these tips on staying safe while riding through the Orchard City:

• Wear a bicycle helmet while riding your bicycle. It’s the law! 
• Keep your bicycle properly maintained: equipped with lights and reflectors, tires fully inflated, and adjusted for your height. Carry a lock to secure your bicycle.
• Ride in a straight line with the flow of traffic. Stay to the right of traffic.
• Be aware of parked cars. Ride a safe distance from the “car door zone”. 
• Obey all traffic signals and “STOP” signs. 
• Use hand signals to indicate the direction you wish to turn. 
• Walk your bicycle across all crosswalks. 
• Yield to pedestrians. 
• Do not wear headphones while riding your bicycle.
• Do not text while riding your bicycle.

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