A man riding a bicycle died after colliding with a vehicle in Palm Springs early Monday morning, marking what is believed to be the fifth cyclist death in five years in the city.
Driving the news: Police said the incident occurred at the intersection of Ramon Road and Compadre Road at 4:45 a.m.
- The cyclist, whose identity is not yet known, was transported to the hospital and died shortly afterward.
- The male driver of the vehicle was arrested on charges unrelated to the collision. It is still being determined whether drugs and/or alcohol were a factor.
Looking back: Local cycling advocates who keep track of fatalities say more than three dozen bicyclists have lost their lives on Coachella Valley roadways in the past 20 years, including five in Palm Springs in the past five years, including this one.
- In February, a Palm Springs-based nonprofit relaunched an effort to increase awareness around cycling fatalities.
- As part of the effort, “ghost bikes,” which have been stripped of their parts, spray-painted white, are placed at or near sites where cyclists were killed.
