A female bicyclist was hit and killed in north Long Beach on July 9 by a driver of a reported stolen vehicle, according to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD).
At approximately 1:20am, Long Beach police responded to the 400 block of East Market Street regarding an injury hit-and-run traffic collision involving a vehicle and a bicyclist.
Arriving officers discovered a bicycle with major damage and a female lying unconscious in the eastbound lanes of Market Street. Long Beach Fire Department paramedics transported the victim to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival.
The preliminary investigation determined a female adult was riding her bicycle eastbound on Market Street in the center median. Her male friend was riding on the north side of the street eastbound on Market Street.
The female bicyclist was struck from behind by a white Kia, which was traveling at a high rate of speed and illegally passing on the left.
The vehicle, with four occupants, never stopped and continued traveling eastbound Market Street at a high rate of speed.
The Kia was later found abandoned in a parking lot in the 5300 block of Atlantic Avenue.
The vehicle had major front-end damage and a smashed windshield.
Further investigation revealed the suspect vehicle, a 2013 Kia Optima, was reported stolen in a carjacking in the area of Pacific Coast Highway and Pine Avenue in Long Beach on July 8.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Long Beach Collision Investigations Detective Brian Watt at (562) 570-5520.
Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org .
Source: LBPD
