Crime & Safety
Police Address Fatal Bike Crash at Committee Meeting
Debra Deem was killed a week ago while riding her bike on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. Police say the crash investigation is continuing.
Debra Deem was killed a week ago while cycling along Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach, but there are still many unanswered questions about what caused her fatal accident.
At Tuesday evening's Bicycle Master Plan Oversight Committe meeting, dozens of people filled the normally empty monthly meeting to express concerns about Deem's death and bike safety. Newport Beach police Lt. Jeff Lu addressed the crowd and said police have been carefully working on the investigation.
"We are just saddened by Debra Deem's death," Lu said. "These types of things affect everyone."
Lu did not provide many details about the accident that claimed 58-year-old Deem's life. He said she was bicycling westbound on Pacific Coast Highway, east of Newport Coast Drive, when she was hit by a white minivan.
"Police and fire were on scene very quickly, she was on the roadway when we arrived," Lu said. "This was not a hit and run. The minivan's driver has been cooperative and has expressed sadness about what happened."
Lu would not confirm if Deem was riding alone, or if she was cycling with another person. He said police believed she was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Lu also said he could not give a time frame of when the investigation might be complete.
"We have a pretty good understanding of what occurred, but we're continuing to do follow-up investigations," Lu said. "We try not to release too much information too soon."
Several residents and cyclists spoke at the meeting to voice their fears and frustrations.
"I was friends with two of the three women most recently killed while cycling in Newport Beach," a woman named Kelly said. "I beg of you to please put some additional signs at the most dangerous corners and intersections."
Stacy Kline, an avid cyclist, said the drivers in Orange County are some of the worst she has seen in respect to sharing the road with cyclists.
"When I came into Orange County on a ride from San Diego, I was ashamed to be from Orange County," Kline said. "The drivers were aggressive with me, honking at me to move and I called Newport Beach police once to report a driver near Mariner's Mile who was yelling at me to get out of the way as I was stopped at a red light."
Resident H. Schneider suggested the city install security cameras to help tone down the aggressive driving.
"Maybe that might help people stop driving so recklessly," Schneider suggested.
During his brief presentation, Lu said before Deem's accident bike involved collisions in Newport Beach were on the decline. Between January and July, 62 bike related crashes were reported in the city, six percent less than last year during the same time period.
Out of the 62 collisions, 26 did not involve a moving vehicle, Lu said.
At Tuesday evening's Bicycle Master Plan Oversight Committe meeting, dozens of people filled the normally empty monthly meeting to express concerns about Deem's death and bike safety. Newport Beach police Lt. Jeff Lu addressed the crowd and said police have been carefully working on the investigation.
"We are just saddened by Debra Deem's death," Lu said. "These types of things affect everyone."
Lu did not provide many details about the accident that claimed 58-year-old Deem's life. He said she was bicycling westbound on Pacific Coast Highway, east of Newport Coast Drive, when she was hit by a white minivan.
"Police and fire were on scene very quickly, she was on the roadway when we arrived," Lu said. "This was not a hit and run. The minivan's driver has been cooperative and has expressed sadness about what happened."
Lu would not confirm if Deem was riding alone, or if she was cycling with another person. He said police believed she was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Lu also said he could not give a time frame of when the investigation might be complete.
"We have a pretty good understanding of what occurred, but we're continuing to do follow-up investigations," Lu said. "We try not to release too much information too soon."
Several residents and cyclists spoke at the meeting to voice their fears and frustrations.
"I was friends with two of the three women most recently killed while cycling in Newport Beach," a woman named Kelly said. "I beg of you to please put some additional signs at the most dangerous corners and intersections."
Stacy Kline, an avid cyclist, said the drivers in Orange County are some of the worst she has seen in respect to sharing the road with cyclists.
"When I came into Orange County on a ride from San Diego, I was ashamed to be from Orange County," Kline said. "The drivers were aggressive with me, honking at me to move and I called Newport Beach police once to report a driver near Mariner's Mile who was yelling at me to get out of the way as I was stopped at a red light."
Resident H. Schneider suggested the city install security cameras to help tone down the aggressive driving.
"Maybe that might help people stop driving so recklessly," Schneider suggested.
During his brief presentation, Lu said before Deem's accident bike involved collisions in Newport Beach were on the decline. Between January and July, 62 bike related crashes were reported in the city, six percent less than last year during the same time period.
Out of the 62 collisions, 26 did not involve a moving vehicle, Lu said.
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