Fullerton Fire Department personnel apply a neck brace and bandages to the victim, who bled slightly from the chin, but remained conscious. Photo by William Camargo/Daily Titan
A biker sustained minor injuries after a collision with a pickup truck on the corner of Nutwood Avenue and Folino Drive around 2:10 p.m Wednesday.
The driver of the truck was making a right turn from Folino Drive onto Nutwood Avenue when the cyclist, a 19-year-old female Cal State Fullerton student, crossed the road and was hit by the black Ford Ranger.
“(The driver) didn’t see any cars, so he went. And she decided to cross right at the same time,” said Meg Espinoza, 24, a business major, who was crossing the street when she witnessed the incident.
Espinoza said she scrambled to help the victim, who was lying on the ground after the collision. Espinoza used the victim’s cell phone to notify the victim’s mother of the incident.
“I think she’s okay. She wasn’t wearing a helmet or anything,” Espinoza said.
Hai Ong also witnessed the collision as she crossed the street toward College Park.
“He didn’t see her and he just hit her. I believe it was (her turn to cross),” he said.
The biker was transported to UCI Medical Center after being assisted by medical personnel. She had bandages on her knees and a neck brace. Her bike, a teal beach cruiser, was on the scene with what appeared to be little damage sustained and off-center handlebars.
The driver also remained on the scene; his truck was not visibly damaged.
Police questioned the driver of the truck as well as several witnesses.
University Police Cpt. John Brockie said the biker was “conscious and breathing,” but complained about pain. She sustained a chin abrasion with minor bleeding.
Police are still determining who is at fault for the collision. Brockie said the biker was riding on the wrong side of the street and entered the crosswalk against the red signal.
“If you’re a bicyclist, you’re not supposed to be riding on the crosswalk (or sidewalk),” Brockie said.
Both the bicyclist or the driver could be ticketed once fault is determined, Brockie said.
David Hood and Ian Wheeler contributed to this report.
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