On October 23, 2014 at approximately 2:24 p.m., an unknown male driver was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe on Howe Ave north of Burney Way at an unknown speed.
The driver was not wearing his seatbelt. There was an unknown female passenger in the front right seat of the Tahoe not wearing her seatbelt as well. A 53 year old female was riding her bicycle southbound on Howe Ave north of Burney Way the wrong way in the northbound bicycle lane.
For unknown reasons the driver of the Tahoe drifted to the left, crossed both northbound lanes, and struck the rear of the bicycle causing the bicyclist to be thrown into the air over 100 feet. The bicyclist was killed upon impact. The Tahoe continued driving forward, running over the bicycle, and struck head on into a tree off the side of the roadway.
The Tahoe burst into flames upon impacting the tree. Due to not wearing a seatbelt, the female passenger struck her head against the windshield and was thrown into the rear of the Tahoe. Witnesses were able to pull the driver and the passenger out of the Chevrolet and start CPR on both of them. The female passenger died due to her injuries at the scene. The driver was transported to Mercy San Juan Hospital where he eventually died.
Several bottles of alcoholic beverages were located inside the Tahoe. Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in this collision.
A toxicology report on the driver is pending.
