Driver strikes, gravely injures bicyclist in El Cerrito

A driver struck and gravely injured a 51-year-old bicyclist Monday evening on University Avenue in El Cerrito, according to San Diego police.

Paramedics took the rider to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and he is not expected to survive, San Diego police Sgt. Kevin Gibson said.

The crash happened around 5:05 p.m. Monday on University Avenue a few blocks west of College Avenue, Gibson said. Both the victim and the 21-year-old driver were headed west when they collided.

According to police, the bicyclist was in a bike lane on the right side of the roadway as the driver approached from behind in the right lane next to him. The driver then merged left to pass a slower vehicle, and at the same time, the bicyclist rode into the traffic lanes around the front of the slow-moving vehicle, Gibson said.

The driver and bicyclist collided as they both passed the other vehicle, Gibson said. It was unclear if the bicycle rider was trying to make a turn at the time.

Gibson did not know what type of vehicle was involved in the crash. The driver, a man, was not injured.

The San Diego Police Department’s traffic division was handling the investigation.