A Santa Maria man has been identified as the bicyclist killed in a hit-and-run incident Sunday night in the city, and police continue seeking information about the vehicle and driver involved.
Ramon Maldonado, 48, died after he was struck at approximately 8:40 p.m. near the intersection of West Main Street and South Blosser Road, police Sgt. Michael McGehee said.
“When officers arrived, they located a mangled bicycle and the bicyclist lying off to the side of the road south of Main Street,” McGehee said.
Rain was falling at the time, and the bicyclist had been riding on the west side of Blosser Road in the dark.
Maldonado suffered major injuries and officers attempted medical intervention until firefighters and paramedics arrived.
An American Medical Response ambulance also was dispatched to transport him to Marian Regional Medical Center, where he died as a result of his injuries.
The driver slammed into the rear of the bicycle, throwing the rider approximately 100 feet, before fleeing from the scene,McGehee said.
Personnel from the Police Department Traffic Unit and Crime Lab responded to the scene to investigate.
Investigators have used debris left at the scene to help gather details about the suspect’s vehicle.
“Through investigation, there was evidence in the roadway and other evidence obtained that lead the investigators to believe the suspect vehicle is a gray SUV or van,” McGehee said. “More than likely, this unknown vehicle will have front-end damage from the collision, as Maldonado was struck from behind.”
Investigators also were working to collect video from nearby businesses to follow the suspect’s vehicle as it fled the scene of the crash.
This is an ongoing investigation, and the police have asked for the public’s help regarding any information or video from around the time of the incident.
Anyone with information, leads, or who may have witnessed the collision can call the Police Department at 805.928.3781, ext. 2277, Traffic Sgt. Michael McGehee at ext. 2291, or Traffic Officer David Brewer, ext. 1201.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.