A 58 year old woman died in a fatal accident in Newport Beach.
Debra Deem, a Laguna Beach resident, was riding her bike in Newport Beach. She was riding her bike west on the East Coast Highway near Newport Coast Drive. Deem collided into a white minivan at around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Deem was wearing a helmet, but she sustained major head trauma. Paramedics responded soon after the crash. Deem was transported to mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. She was put on life support. Unfortunately, Deem later succumbed to her injuries. She was taking off life support, and she passed on Wednesday.
Police were still investigating the crash on Wednesday. It is not clear who is at fault for the accident. No arrests or changes have been made. Police do not believe alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash. More details about the crash have not been released.
Bike safety is a serious concern in Newport Beach. Locals have complained that this area is too dangerous for bicyclists. Even experienced bicyclists are in danger on this road. Newport Beach is a popular bicycling location. According to police, there were 106 accidents involving bicyclists in 2012. In September 2012, there were two fatal bicycle accidents. This accident is the third bicycling fatality in Newport Beach in the last 12 month. It is the 6th fatal accident since 2010. There have been over 62 cycling fatalities in Southern California this year. This accident will be the 8th fatal accident in Orange County.
Debra Deem is the wife of Paul Deem. Paul Deem is a former Olympic cyclist and owner of Cycle Werx bike shops located in Costa Mesa and San Clemente. Paul and Debra Deem were prominent members of the Orange County cycling community.
The Newport Beach Bicycle Master Plan Oversight Committee will meet on September 3rd. This recent death will definitely be part of the discussion. The committee hopes to decrease the number of accidents and improve street safety.
If you or a loved one is ever in a bicycle accident, contact a Newport Beach bicycle accident lawyer. Bicyclists are unfortunately incredibly vulnerable to accidents. A bicyclist is less visible than a vehicle. In the case of a collision, bicyclists are also more vulnerable to injury. This is why many accidents involving bicyclists are often quite serious.
The Law Offices of Dara Khajavi is fully prepared to handle any bicycle accident case. Contact us today for a free consultation.