Cyclist Killed in LA Road Rage Incident

The LA Times is reporting on the cyclist death allegedly caused by a driver in a road rage incident not involving the cyclist.  Here's the LAT account:

A driver in an apparent road-rage incident that left a bicyclist dead in downtown Los Angeles has been released, though police say he may still be criminally charged.  A 62-year-old bicyclist was killed Tuesday after being struck by one of two drivers in the midst of a dispute near 8th and Francisco streets. The crash was still under investigation.

The driver of a Chevrolet Avalanche, a 37-year-old man, was detained for questioning by police. He has since been released, with a “possibility of filing later on,” said LAPD Sgt. J. Jennerson. The driver of a Kia compact car, a 23-year-old woman, remained on the scene but was not detained, police said.

The drivers apparently had some dispute while heading north on Figueroa Street.They turned left on 8th Street, and near Francisco Street, the driver of the Avalanche tried to pass the Kia on the right. While doing so, he allegedly struck the bicyclist, police said.
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Cycling in a urban setting can be terrifying enough but to be the innocent victim of some knucklehead in the throes of road rage is sickening.  I am reminded of the Dr. Thompson assault case which also came out of LA and  which I blawged extensively about throughout the latter part of 2009.  The former physician is now doing 8 years for his near-deadly assault on cyclists.  We are targets, out there.