Bicyclist killed in Rancho Mirage collision identified
Police and firefighters were called to Ramon Road at Rattler Road Thursday morning after a motorist struck and killed a bicyclist while reportedly speeding.
Riverside County Sheriffs Deputies confirmed a man on a bike had died in the collision. The Riverside County Coroner’s office later identified the man as William Campbell, 32, of Cathedral City.
#Update: This is now a fatal collision as the bicyclist that was hit has died at the scene deputies have confirmed. Investigation underway. @KESQ pic.twitter.com/AFfMS6ieMZ
— Jeremy Chen (@JeremyChenKESQ) December 13, 2018
The collision was first reported at 6:49 a.m. in the eastbound traffic lanes of Ramon Road.
News Channel 3’s Chief Photographer Christopher Flicker witnessed the collision and said he saw a bicyclist flying into the air and cartwheeling from the force of the impact.
Police detained and handcuffed a man who was driving a white Honda Accord and suspected of hitting the cyclist. The Sheriff’s Department has not confirmed whether the man was taken into custody. A news release adds that the man cooperated with investigators.
The California Highway Patrol said that this first driver said a second motorist in another vehicle was trying to run him off the road so he was speeding at the time of the collision.
The CHP said another driver involved in the collision stopped at a nearby gas station and waited for police to arrive.
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