Cyclists call for more enforcement after hit-and-run on CV Link in Coachella

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) - A cyclist is recovering after being struck in a hit-and-run while riding on the CV Link in Coachella over the weekend, and now he and other riders say the crash underscores a growing safety concern: vehicles driving on the pathway.

The crash happened on the CV Link between Dillon Road and Avenue 50. The cyclist, who asked not to be identified, told News Channel 3 he was riding with a friend when the incident unfolded.

"I could hear the engine roaring behind me, he hit the bike," the cyclist said. "He [friend] yelled at me, 'There's a car behind us.' He yelled multiple times because we were fighting the wind and I couldn't hear him, and as soon as I looked back I had the vehicle right behind me."

Despite trying to avoid the vehicle, he said the driver struck him before speeding away without stopping. The crash left him with scrapes, a swollen leg and knee, and damage to his bicycle.

The cyclist says the hit-and-run is part of a larger problem. He and other riders say they frequently see unauthorized vehicles driving on the CV Link, which is intended primarily for pedestrians, cyclists and other authorized users.

"There was a story about a car driving on the CV Link before dawn with a worried parent looking for a child," another cyclist said, referring to an incident on the Palm Springs section of the CV Link near Vista Chino on Wednesday.

News Channel 3 asked the Riverside County Sheriff's Department about patrols and enforcement along the pathway.

"Coachella deputies patrol that area and when they pass the CV Link, they obviously take a look and make sure there are no cars or vehicles that are not supposed to be on the pathway," said Deputy Paul Abrego.

Abrego emphasized that vehicles are not permitted on the CV Link. When asked why more physical barriers are not installed at entrances, Abrego said officials must also consider cyclist safety.

Still, the cyclist believes more visible law enforcement patrols could help prevent future incidents. He says he rides the CV Link several times a week but rarely sees deputies.

Abrego said the Sheriff's Department does what it can to patrol the CV Link, but residents can help by reporting suspicious activity so deputies can increase patrols when needed.

"I think we need to have the public be more vigilant, watching that CV Link. Help us be our eyes and ears on that roadway because we are in the city handling all the stuff. We look at the CV Link, but some of that area is desolate," he said.

The cyclist hopes his experience leads to increased enforcement before someone is seriously hurt.

"If we have more patrol in the area, you're going to see less out there, like assaults or... even somebody getting killed by a car like I almost did," he said.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department says the hit-and-run remains under investigation. Investigators say they are looking for a small white Honda believed to have been involved in the crash.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.