Another Cyclist killed in Dana Point on PCH

This stretch of PCH in Dana Point is quickly becoming the Death Zone!

Something has to be done!

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fatal27jul27,1,7512463.story

Dana Point Bicyclist Is Killed

The crash is on a path near where two joggers were hit earlier and another bike rider was killed.

By Mai Tran, Times Staff Writer
July 27, 2006

A bicyclist was killed Tuesday by an alleged drunk driver on a bike path near where last spring two joggers were struck by a hit-and-run motorist and another bicyclist was killed.

Michael Erin Thompson, 33, of Dana Point was pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:20 p.m. accident at Pacific Coast Highway and Palisades Drive.

Tammy Jo Booth, a 23-year-old waitress from San Clemente, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and vehicular manslaughter. Bail was set at $100,000.

The area, which is under construction, is near where Carol Daniel, 41, and Stacy Neria, 34, both of San Clemente, were struck as they were jogging April 8.

Authorities say William Todd Bradshaw, a 37-year-old transient, was the driver and sped from the scene. He was arrested a week later at a nearby strip mall. The women were seriously injured and are still undergoing therapy.

In an unrelated accident a month later, Viola Hill Tucker, 78, of San Clemente was struck and killed as she rode north on the same stretch of road.

Police said Thompson was riding alone on the popular bike path, which offers a view of the ocean. He was not wearing a helmet but had a light on his bike, said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

When officers arrived, Booth was giving first aid to Thompson.

The officer then arrested Booth after he noticed she appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, police said.

Booth, who has no previous criminal record, will be arraigned in Orange County Superior Court in Laguna Niguel today.

Really sucks.

I decided quite a while ago not to ride PCH past sunset anymore.

Too many hyped up kids and obvious driving under the influence…

Did he have a front or/and a rear light on his bike?

(California CVC only requires a front light — I never understood why…)

Truly sad. I have no sympathy whatsoever for drunk drivers who cause accidents or kill people. String them up by their genitals and let rats feast on their eyes I say.

Is this “path” just a designated lane on the road? I don’t quite understand how or why vehicles are on the path otherwise.

Chris

I ran through this exact intersection last fall when I was out in Dana Point for a conference - Palisades had a designated bike lane but I don’t remember if the PCH did.

I live 3 miles from there. I stopped riding and running along that strip between San Clemente and Dana Point after Stacy and Carol were hit (they live in my neighborhood, but I didn’t know them). There is a shoulder along PCH there that is signed as a bike lane, but there has been alot of construction along that stretch for the past year, and it narrows in some areas. I try to stick to the bike trails and less-travelled roads. That is some scary stuff!