Riders, please use lights. And if you don't use lights, use common sense. Use all senses out there. You can't control some jerk getting into a car and driving drunk but remember that LA County is number one in hit and runs. You might be at the wrong place and the wrong time but if we do our best to be seen, those times are less likely... but I still believe that your time to go is your time to go. I suggest investing in a Go-Pro and strapping a constant surveillance system on your body. If the NSA is doing it, why not you?
Please don't drink and drive.
Hippy Sippy09.15.13 - 1:18 pm
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And please use a helmet. Its a life saver known until you use it... its a fucking life saver. Fuck your hair, protect ya neck!
Hippy Sippy09.15.13 - 1:23 pm
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Bright lights don't necessarily prevent drunk drivers from hitting cyclists:
http://stillwater.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/bayport-squad-struck-by-suspected-drunk-driver
Wearing a helmet doesn't necessarily prevent cyclists from dying when struck by a car:
http://www.wlos.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wlos_bicyclist-killed-13133.shtml
gregb responding to a
comment by Hippy Sippy
09.15.13 - 1:52 pm
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Since this has become a safety thread and not a memorial as it was intended to be. Nothing is more effective at night than reflectors. I know most don't have them but they are way better at pointing you at to any light coming your way.. Especially on the pedals and wheels. Those set of reflectors will bring more attention to you than a obnoxious strobing lcd light.
sexy09.15.13 - 3:30 pm
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Andy's last photo taken on Fri night, courtesy of Richie B.
"That's the name all the guys call him. Louis "Andy" Garcia...." - Richie
Joe Borfo09.15.13 - 4:00 pm
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Its sad and scary how vulnerable we are out there on the streets. RIP Louis Andy Garcia
mandingo09.15.13 - 11:00 pm
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Don't drink & drive. Could you live with yourself if you caused a tragedy like this?
liquidpremium09.16.13 - 9:05 am
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We will be having a fundraiser for the family this Sunday
http://www.midnightridazz.com/viewStory.php?storyId=8858
FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/301892249953735/
snowman09.16.13 - 10:17 am
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Rest in peace friend... and really guys were gonna discuss weather we should take steps to protect ourselves or not...maybe yall should go ahead and give up riding before we have to place some more ghost bikes. just sayin helmets an lights always help and never hurt its a no brainer, and for the record Andy was one of the safest and most responsible riders i've ridden with. Period.
Dabber Dan09.16.13 - 10:30 am
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yeah seriously. shut up.
They better put this woman away for a few years AT LEAST.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Hippy Sippy
09.16.13 - 12:31 pm
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Crazy how fast a life can be taken away by someones actions.. R.I.P Andy..
The lights are the bridge need to be brighter for cyclist..
crank1r09.16.13 - 1:28 pm
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Andy is in the far right in WHITE!
crank1r09.16.13 - 1:30 pm
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Andy was the homie. He will be missed. He did have a helmet on and all six ridazz had lights. Front to back. She hit 3 ridazz. The driver was drinking, and driving fast. Positive all the homies riding in that group always use common sense.
DEVILZ_NIGHT responding to a
comment by Hippy Sippy
09.16.13 - 1:32 pm
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I've been putting up ghost bikes with others in our community for the past 4 years. This one hits way too close to home. We are all vulnerable out there. Ride safe and ride lit up.
Creative Thing responding to a
comment by DEVILZ_NIGHT
09.16.13 - 8:29 pm
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thank you Creative. I see the ghost bikes on the FB page. it's very giving of you and the others to do it.
sadly, riding safe is what these youngsters were doing. They also had lights....
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Creative Thing
09.17.13 - 12:38 pm
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Breaking news — Two cyclists injured, one killed by second driver in drunken early morning hit-and-run
September 14, 2013
I’ve just gotten word from the LAPD that a bike rider was killed, and two others injured in a hit-and-run early this morning.
Or rather, the victim most likely died because the driver failed to stop at the scene as required by law and basic human decency.
According to the press release, 28-year old Los Angeles resident Ulises Melgar, 30-year old Mario Lopez of Bellflower and 21-year old Bell Flower resident Luis Garcia were riding east on Cesar Chavez Avenue at Mission Road with two other bicyclists at approximately 2:45 am Saturday.
They were rear-ended by an eastbound 2013 Toyota Corolla driven by 21-year old Wendy Villegas, knocking all three off their bikes and into the street.
Villegas fled the scene, leaving her victims lying in the street. She drove to her home, where she told her parents she’d been in a collision, and asked them to call the police.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Just moments after Villegas ran away, 21-year old Jimmy Marroquin was driving east on Cesar Chavez in a 1994 Nissan Quest. He didn’t see Garcia lying in the roadway and struck him with his SUV, dragging his body a short distance.
Had Villegas stayed at the scene, she could have directed other drivers around the people lying in the street until they could move or help could arrive. Ot at the very least, Marroquin would have been more likely to see the collision and drive more carefully around it.
Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene. Whether he could have survived the initial collision if he hadn’t been struck a second time is a matter of speculation.
However, the other two victims only suffered minor injuries, which suggests that his injuries might have been survivable. Lopez was treated by paramedics at the scene, while Melgar was taken to the ER at USC Medical Center.
Meanwhile, Villegas confessed to police that she had been drinking and left the scene of the collision. She was booked for hit-and-run resulting in injury or death (CVC 20001(a)) and vehicular manslaughter while under the influence (Penal Code 191.5).
In other words, police investigators are blaming her for Garcia’s death.
The collision is still under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Central Traffic Detective M. Kaden at (213) 972-1837 or Officer R. Cortez at (213) 972-1846; or call the Central Traffic Division’s Watch Commander at (213) 972-1853 during the weekend or off hours.
This is the 66th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 28th in Los Angeles County; that compares to 23 in the county for all of last year. It is also the 12th biking death in the City of Los Angeles, compared to five in each of the last year two years.
That’s nearly two-and-a-half times the city’s cycling death toll for 2011 and 2012, with over three months left in the year.
And horrifyingly, nine of those 12 deaths have been hit-and-runs.
My prayers and deepest sympathy for Luis Garcia and his loved ones.
Thanks to LAPD Central Traffic bike liaison Sgt. Laszlo Sandor for the heads-up.
DEVILZ_NIGHT09.17.13 - 3:01 pm
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Today will be the Memorial for our friend "Andy Garcia" Rest in Peace
the memorial will be held @ 7pm
@ San Antonio Church in Boyle Heights
Address: 555 Fairview Ave. Los Angeles Ca 90033
Two Block From Ceasar E Chavez & Mission
Come show our respects to the family that flew here from texas last night
DEVILZ_NIGHT09.17.13 - 3:13 pm
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:-( very sad to hear/see this. Ride In Peace...
Redline09.17.13 - 3:17 pm
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I am an extended family member of Andy and bicyclist. I may not be there to ride with all of you, but will be there in spirit. The extended family has Andy, the Garcia family and injured riders in prayer.
Andy's wake will be held in El Paso, TX (his home town) on Friday September 20, 2013 and his resurrection mass will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at San Antonio de Padua Church, El Paso TX.
If anyone would like to send pictures of Andy so we in El Paso can use them in a collage please send them to my email address, j_marcosz@yahoo.com
Joe G.
jmgonzamarron09.17.13 - 4:43 pm
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I am an extended family member of Andy and bicyclist. I may not be there to ride with all of you, but will be there in spirit. The extended family has Andy, the Garcia family and injured riders in prayer.
Andy's wake will be held in El Paso, TX (his home town) on Friday September 20, 2013 and his resurrection mass will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at San Antonio de Padua Church, El Paso TX.
If anyone would like to send pictures of Andy so we in El Paso can use them in a collage please send them to my email address, j_marcosz@yahoo.com
Joe G.
jmgonzamarron09.17.13 - 9:40 pm
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We will miss you it was a great honor to ride with you.
R.I.P Andy Garcia
DEVILZ_NIGHT09.18.13 - 11:33 am
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To all my family and friends, family and friends of Carmen Tellez (Bel Air High School Alum), and friends of her beloved son, Andy Garcia:
As many of you already know, we lost Andy to a tragic accident this weekend in Los Angeles, CA. We're so grateful for the love and support that has already so graciously been sent our way. Thank you, especially for your kind prayers. Please, keep praying as this is going to continue to be a difficult time for the family, whom are currently in CA picking up their son/brother. A donation fund has been set up in Andy's honor. If you would like to offer you support that way, donations can be made to:
Luis Andres Garcia Donation Fund
Acct# 5566986583-Wells Fargo Bank.
You can call in, mail or drop off donation at any Wells Fargo Bank.
(Checks payable to Luis Andres Garcia Donation Fund)
Thank you for the continuous support and may God bless you all.
1
DEVILZ_NIGHT09.19.13 - 12:15 am
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Memorial ride after the car wash this Sunday, come out and celebrate Andy's life by doing what he loved most, riding.
http://www.midnightridazz.com/viewStory.php?storyId=8869
https://www.facebook.com/events/527951157285730/
snowman09.19.13 - 2:02 pm
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Andy was young and smart, happy and aware. Now he's gone and all the lights and the nicest helmet wouldn't prevent you from being at the wrong place and the wrong time. I apologize for any disrespect I might have caused.
I still stand with the rest of what I said. Drinking and driving, and to the extent where drinking and riding can make you a serious road hazard, must not be tolerated. I do my part anytime I see a car swerving, running lights, making fast unsafe turns with pedestrians about to cross, intimidating cyclist....etc.... I call 911 and report their drunk asses. The use of cops to stop the irresponsible use of a drug we have legalized is something to promote because nothing pisses me off more than seeing cops give bullshit tickets instead of actively patrolling the streets for drunk drivers and violent crimes.
Next time I am out riding, I will make it a goal to patrol streets around bars and liquor stores and report any drivers who are obviously fucked up. If you drink and drive, not only do you have to watch out for the blacks and whites, but be aware that a long haired freak like me will not let your drunk freak flag fly friendo. Fuck all drunk drivers. I seriously would love it if a DUI got your license suspended for 5 years on the first offense plus 2 months jail time and a 3000 dollar fine, license suspension for life on the second plus 1 year in prison and a 10000 dollar fine, and banishment to DUI Island for life on the third offense.... and mandatory liver removal if you kill anyone while drinking and driving. Said liver could be given to someone who is more deserving while you fucking die, you liver-less twat! This would end most DUI's over night and people will still drink, but much more responsibly too.
Rest in peace Andy, I never met you but you were good to this world and we will all miss you.
Hippy Sippy09.20.13 - 5:02 pm
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I shouldn't of assumed any thing and I only implored people to use lights because of the six riders, three got hit, and Andy was hit by a second motorist because he couldn't see him laying there. It all happened so fast and that Wendy cunt should of stopped but she didn't. Sorry for your loss man.
Hippy Sippy responding to a
comment by DEVILZ_NIGHT
09.20.13 - 5:21 pm
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