Huntington Beach Police in Southern California are investigating on Sept. 11 a series of hit-and-run collisions involving three separate bicyclists and a vehicle, which led authorities to believe the incidents may be related to the same driver.
On Sept. 10 at around 10:30 p.m., police were notified of a hit-and-run crash near the intersection of Brad Drive and Edwards Street involving an adult victim on his bicycle.
The victim, who suffered minor injuries, told police the vehicle intentionally sideswiped him and then fled. The bicyclist was treated at the scene and then released.
Police were notified of a second downed bicyclist about 15 minutes after the call for the first victim, this time around Heil Avenue and Springdale Street. Responding officers found the victim lying in the street with reportedly major injuries.
The bicyclist succumbed to his injuries at the scene despite the best efforts of paramedics, according to police.The victim’s identity will be released pending notification of next of kin, according to the police.
During an investigation of both incidents, police received a call from a third victim who said he was struck by a vehicle at around 10 p.m. when riding his bicycle across the crosswalk of Warner Avenue and Edwards Street. The driver also fled the scene, leaving the bicyclist with minor injuries.
Witnesses from all three incidents identified the suspect’s vehicle as possibly a “black Toyota four-door sedan with significant passenger-side bumper damage,” police reported.
Anyone with information about the collisions is urged to call the police department’s hotline at 714-375-5066. Anonymous tipsters can contact the OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.
