A preliminary investigation found that a delivery truck was traveling westbound on Florida Avenue when it struck the bicyclist, who was trying to cross the street
Hemet, CA – A 40-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed by a vehicle at a Hemet intersection on Monday evening, the Hemet Police Department reported.
Just before 6:50 p.m. February 2, authorities were called to the scene of a collision at the Florida and Hamilton avenues intersection.
When authorities arrived at the scene, they located a severely injured man and performed life-saving measures until paramedics responded to the scene.
A preliminary investigation found that a delivery truck was traveling westbound on Florida Avenue when it struck the bicyclist, who was trying to cross the street.
Despite efforts by the first responders to save the bicyclist, the rider succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The bicyclist was later identified by Hemet police as Ricardo Olvera Hernandez, 40, of Hemet.
After the crash, the driver of the truck stayed at the scene and waited for the authorities to arrive. Authorities said the driver was cooperative with law enforcement investigating the incident.
The crash led to the closure of Florida Avenue between Elk Street and Western Avenue for hours as authorities conducted the on-scene investigations. The roadway was reopened at 11:30 p.m.
At this time, no additional details on the incident have been released. The Hemet Police Department is investigating the accident and anyone with information is urged to contact 951-765-2400.
According to statewide crash type breakdowns from the California Department of Transportation and CHP SWITRS data, head-on collisions accounted for about 9.7 % of all fatal and serious injury crashes between 2018 and 2022 — a disproportionately high share given their relative infrequency compared with other crash types. These collisions often occur when a vehicle crosses into oncoming traffic on two-lane roads or freeways without median separation, and they are more likely to result in fatalities than other crash types. Contributing factors include driver impairment (DUI), distracted or fatigued driving, speeding, and unsafe passing or wrong-way travel. Alcohol and drug impairment contribute to a significant proportion of head-on impacts statewide, while rural corridors with limited barriers remain high-risk environments. Due to the direct frontal impact, these collisions frequently lead to severe injuries and deaths even at moderate speeds, underscoring the need for targeted safety measures to reduce lane departure and wrong-way incidents.
If you have lost a loved one in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss. An experienced bicycle accident attorney can assess your claim, protect your rights, and pursue the full damages available to support your recovery. To learn more about your legal options, visit our car accident lawyer page.