Crime & Safety
Police: Driver Not At Fault in Fatal Bicyclist Crash
Newport Beach police say Sarah Leaf lost control of her bike and fell into traffic on Bayside Drive.
The driver of a truck that collided with a young cyclist in Newport Beach was not to blame for the fatal accident, Newport Beach police reported.
Sarah Leaf, 29, was killed on Sept. 14 while cycling on Bayside Drive. Police say the investigation showed Leaf and the driver of the truck both made right turns from eastbound East Coast Highway to southbound Bayside Drive.
"While making her turn, Ms. Leaf began to lose control of her bicycle and subsequently fell into the number two lane of southbound Bayside Drive," Kathy Lowe, police spokeswoman, said in an email. "Ms. Leaf fell underneath the truck and the truck then traveled over her body. There was no evidence to indicate that the truck and bike made contact prior to Ms. Leaf falling to the ground."
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Police say drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash.
Leaf worked as a nutritionist at Shape-Up Fitness and Spa in Corona del Mar. A public memorial was held for her on Sept. 22. Her family had her funeral in Arizona.
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