NICE ? A 12-year-old boy is in critical condition at Oakland Children”s Hospital, where he was taken with life-threatening injuries after he was hit by a van while riding his bicycle Wednesday night, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Nice resident Charles Becker, 82, was driving his 1994 Ford Econovan east on Manzanita Avenue east of Highway 20. The boy, a Nice resident, was riding without a helmet, proper lighting or functional brakes just before 8 p.m. when the van hit him, according to a CHP press release.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the bicyclist rode into the path directly in front of Becker when he was struck,” CHP officer Adam Garcia said.
The bicyclist was flown to Oakland Children”s Hospital by REACH air ambulance. Officer Randy Forslund is investigating the incident. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call the Clear Lake Area CHP Office at 279-0103.
Garcia took the opportunity to remind the public that anyone younger than 18 is required to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, skateboard or scooter. ?After dark, bicyclists are required to have a white front headlamp that is visible from 300 feet away, a red rear reflector that is visible 500 feet away and white or yellow reflectors visible to the front and rear of each pedal.
A minor”s parents can be cited if the child violates the bicycle safety laws, even if the parent is not physically with the child at the time of the violation, according to Garcia.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636 ext. 37.
