Authorities have identified the Santa Rosa cyclist killed Sept. 20 after a driver made an unsafe turn off Old Redwood Highway near Windsor.
Fernando Velazquez, 94, was stopped on the shoulder just south of Shiloh Road when the driver of a northbound Range Rover veered off the road and struck him, California Highway Patrol Officer David deRutte said. Velazquez was taken to Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he later died.
Velazquez rode his tricycle every day, joking it was his secret to a long life, according to a GoFundMe set up to cover funeral expenses. The fundraiser described him as a father, grandfather and friend who attended mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Windsor, where he was known for his smiles, handshakes, prayers and encouragement.
“He believed deeply in helping others, often putting the needs of family, neighbors and even strangers above his own,” the fundraiser said.
The driver remained at the scene and was later interviewed at CHP’s Santa Rosa office, deRutte said. Investigators are still determining what caused the driver’s unsafe turn, though drugs or alcohol are not suspected. CHP is working with the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office on possible charges.
The stretch of Old Redwood Highway where the crash occurred is wide and straight, with three lanes and a 45 mph speed limit. Pedestrians’ and cyclists’ risk of death nearly doubles when impact speeds rise from 30 to 40 mph, according to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. The road is bordered by farmland to the northeast and homes and a church to the southwest.
Eris Weaver, executive director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, said that while the shoulder on Old Redwood Highway is wide, the road’s design encourages fast driving and carries heavy traffic. A designated right-turn lane at Shiloh Road can create confusion between drivers and cyclists over right-of-way, she said.
Possible safety improvements include installing a physical barrier between the shoulder and traffic and painting a bike lane to better separate cyclists from turning vehicles, Weaver said.
Weaver said the coalition has been in touch with Velazquez’s family, who are worried about whether the driver will face consequences.
Velazquez’s death came just two days after another serious collision on the same road. On Sept. 18, a pickup truck struck a 15-year-old girl crossing near Thrushwing Avenue, throwing her 52 yards and causing multiple fractures. The teenager was first taken to a hospital, then flown to UC Davis Medical Center for surgery, and has since been released, Windsor police Sgt. Jeff Toney said. She is now able to take a few steps.