November 20, 2024 -- A 41-year-old bicyclist believed to be homeless died Sunday after being struck by two vehicles on Lincoln Boulevard shortly after midnight.
Officers responded at around 12:30 a.m. to the scene of a fatal traffic collision near the 1800 block of Lincoln in Ocean Park, according to police.
"A bicyclist was traveling southbound on Lincoln Boulevard when he was struck by a vehicle and subsequently struck again by a second vehicle," said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.
"Both drivers remained at the scene and are cooperating with the investigation," Aklufi said. "Neither driver showed signs of impairment."
The victim -- identified by the LA County Coroner as Bradley Proudfoot -- was pronounced dead at the scene.
The fatal crash was the first in Santa Monica involving a bicyclist since Tania Mooser, an avid cyclist, was killed by a car in October of last year on 19th Street and Idaho Avenue.
The fatal crash prompted the City Council to direct staff to strengthen Santa Monica's commitment "to eliminate all fatal and severe-injury crashes" ("Council Takes Steps to Curb Collisions Involving Cyclists, Pedestrians," November 17, 2023).
In less than a month, the City had installed four-way stop signs at the dangerous intersection ("Intersection Where Bicyclist Killed to Get 4-Way Stop Signs," November 20, 2023).
The unusually swift action came after more than 120 members of the public commented in person and in writing urging the Council to place four-way stop signs along Idaho and other busy Santa Monica streets.
Traffic officers also began mounting "extra enforcement efforts" to boost bicycle safety by cracking down on behaviors responsible for collisions involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
During the Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation, the officers are on the lookout for violations "committed by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries."
The violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.
According to City data analyzed by The Lookout last December, bicyclists and motorists involved in serious crashes since 2010 have both been almost equally at fault (" Bicyclists Share Fault in Serious Crashes, Data Show," December 14, 2023).
Of the 72 fatal and severe injury (FSI) crashes between January 1, 2010 and November 16, 2023, the cyclist was determined to be at fault in 26 of the crashes and the motorist in 31.
In the remaining 15 incidents no fault was determined for either the driver or the cyclist, according to data provided to The Lookout by the City.
There has been one fatal crash involving a bicyclist in each of the past three years, compared to the same number over the previous 12 years, according to the data.
Sunday's fatal crash remains under investigation.
Anyone who may have information related to this incident should email Investigator Lewis at Lantz.Lewis@santamonica.gov or call the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at 310-458-8427.