Competitive cyclist James Steven Swarzman of Encino, 47, was killed by a Blue Ford F-150 while biking on route 101 in North San Diego County. A tragic accident? Police aren't so sure. According to KGTV of San Diego, police there are investigating Swarzman's death as a possible homicide, and one that may be linked to another hit-and-run on the same stretch of road in January. In the prior accident, the cyclist survived.
San Diego County Sheriff's Department investigators are looking into the possibility that the driver did not stop because he wanted to hit the bicyclist.
"When I hear about this one, number one, it sickens me because someone actually lost their life," said Heath Bernstein.In January, Bernstein was the victim in a hit-and-run that is similar to Sunday's incident.
Bernstein was riding his bicycle on Highway 101 in Carlsbad when a dark-colored pickup truck ran him down.
"The truck that hit me came across one empty lane of traffic, across the bike lane taking me out, and then back to the traffic lane. To me that was 100 percent intentional," Bernstein told 10News Reporter Kevin Roy. Bernstein said the facts between the two cases points to a possible connection.
The truck in both cases is described a dark colored, possibly blue Ford F150. Read more about this case on Biking in LA.