News

Cyclist, 37, dies after car and bike collide on Cañada Road near Filoli Garden

Lester Legarda of South San Francisco died at the accident scene

A 37-year-old South San Francisco man died Monday night, April 10, after the bicycle he was riding collided with a car on Cañada Road near Fioli, according to the California Highway Patrol Redwood City.

The San Mateo County Coroner's Office identified him as Lester Legarda.

The crash caused law enforcement to shut down the road for several hours between Edgewood Road and the Pulgas Water Temple while they investigated.

According to initial reports, an Acura sedan and a cyclist were both traveling north on Cañada Road when the crash occurred around 5 p.m. The cause of the collision has not yet been determined and is currently under investigation.

The 22-year-old driver of car and the passenger were both taken to the hospital as a precaution, according to CHP.

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Authorities reopened Cañada Road shortly before 8:30 p.m on Monday after closing following the fatal crash earlier in the evening.

Witnesses are asked to contact the Redwood City Area Office at 650-779-2700 with any information regarding Monday night's crash.

This is the second time in less than two weeks that a cyclist has died in Redwood City after a collision involving a motorist.

On March 31, a cyclist on Veterans Boulevard was killed in a hit-and-run collision. Police are still investigating that incident.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Michelle Iracheta
   
Michelle Iracheta is the editor at the Redwood City Pulse. Her work has appeared in the Houston Chronicle, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, The Seattle Times and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Michelle, a Houston native, enjoys spending time with her mini doodle, Kooper. Read more >>

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Cyclist, 37, dies after car and bike collide on Cañada Road near Filoli Garden

Lester Legarda of South San Francisco died at the accident scene

A 37-year-old South San Francisco man died Monday night, April 10, after the bicycle he was riding collided with a car on Cañada Road near Fioli, according to the California Highway Patrol Redwood City.

The San Mateo County Coroner's Office identified him as Lester Legarda.

The crash caused law enforcement to shut down the road for several hours between Edgewood Road and the Pulgas Water Temple while they investigated.

According to initial reports, an Acura sedan and a cyclist were both traveling north on Cañada Road when the crash occurred around 5 p.m. The cause of the collision has not yet been determined and is currently under investigation.

The 22-year-old driver of car and the passenger were both taken to the hospital as a precaution, according to CHP.

Authorities reopened Cañada Road shortly before 8:30 p.m on Monday after closing following the fatal crash earlier in the evening.

Witnesses are asked to contact the Redwood City Area Office at 650-779-2700 with any information regarding Monday night's crash.

This is the second time in less than two weeks that a cyclist has died in Redwood City after a collision involving a motorist.

On March 31, a cyclist on Veterans Boulevard was killed in a hit-and-run collision. Police are still investigating that incident.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Comments

TR
Registered user
Menlo Park: other
on Apr 11, 2023 at 12:12 pm
TR, Menlo Park: other
Registered user
on Apr 11, 2023 at 12:12 pm

Please stop using passive and marginally accurate language for violent deaths. The article says that it happened "...after the bicycle he was riding collided with a car..." This suggests that the bicycle ran into the car. This is an implication of fault. However, the known facts say that both the bike and car were traveling in the same direction. With a fatality involved, it seems HIGHLY likely that the car was overtaking the bicycle (and thus FULLY responsible) when the 2 ton machine struck, mangled and killed the person who was riding the bicycle. Note the 'person' was struck and killed. The impact between the car and bike is not the story. The story is that one person was operating a 2 tone machine in such a way that it killed another human being. Was it a true 'accident' in that it was unforeseeable? Perhaps. But more likely it will turn out to be negligence at best that the operator of the car failed to give the operator of the bicycle sufficient space while overtaking and the person riding the bicycle has paid the price with his life. Will this be represented this way in news? Haven't seen it yet.


Mike
Registered user
Portola Valley: Central Portola Valley
on Apr 11, 2023 at 12:37 pm
Mike, Portola Valley: Central Portola Valley
Registered user
on Apr 11, 2023 at 12:37 pm

The purpose of a news article is to give the reader who what when where why and how. Give the facts they are known. It is not the job nor the place of the reporter to speculate as to the cause and blame of the incident or accident if that is what it was. You are possibly right ,more than likely in fact. But the article is well written in that it has FACTS. Not speculation. A collision happened Monday night, the biker died. Well done Michelle. Keep up the good work.


kbehroozi
Registered user
Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Apr 11, 2023 at 1:48 pm
kbehroozi, Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
Registered user
on Apr 11, 2023 at 1:48 pm

So SM Daily Journal and the Daily Post were more explicit about the known facts as reported by the SMC Sheriff. Both reported that the cyclist was struck from behind by the driver. I hope that the Almanac can update their article to include those facts.


Neighbor
Registered user
Portola Valley: other
on Apr 11, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Neighbor, Portola Valley: other
Registered user
on Apr 11, 2023 at 1:58 pm

It’s also possible that the cyclist swerved into the lane in front of the car, without looking—or that the cyclist did a sudden u turn without looking. Both of these scenarios happen with some frequency. It’s a tragedy for everyone involved. The poor cyclist, but also the poor driver of the car—they must feel terrible.


clmacchello
Registered user
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Apr 11, 2023 at 2:06 pm
clmacchello, Menlo Park: Downtown
Registered user
on Apr 11, 2023 at 2:06 pm

A strange way to describe this accident: "a bicycle collided with a car..." Sounds absurd. If the police report says that the cyclist was indeed struck from behind by the driver, then the language should reflect that fact. This is not clear reporting.


Bike Menlo Park
Registered user
Menlo Park: Park Forest
on Apr 11, 2023 at 7:11 pm
Bike Menlo Park, Menlo Park: Park Forest
Registered user
on Apr 11, 2023 at 7:11 pm

This is devastating. Cañada Road is a popular road for recreational cycling and one can imagine that the bicyclist was out enjoying the spring weather while it was still quite bright outside. Thanks to other posters who have called out the story's tortured wording. If the bicyclist was the one that actively ran into the car (unless he turned head-on into the car), he would likely have bounced off instead of ending up dead.


94062
Registered user
Woodside: other
on Apr 13, 2023 at 5:44 am
94062, Woodside: other
Registered user
on Apr 13, 2023 at 5:44 am

I was cycling on this road/same direction one hour prior and was terrified the entire ride. IT WAS HORRIBLE! There are so MANY temporary/folding “caution” road signs and small landslides that are completely blocking the bike lane; which forces cyclists into the road with vehicles. I was constantly having to look behind me while also taking note of southbound vehicles since northbound vehicles were being forced into the southbound lanes to avoid cyclists. The beautiful scenery and weather did not outweigh the stress! It was awful (I had told my cycling partner that I will never ride there again) and especially now after hearing about this tragically sad event.


Rick
Registered user
Menlo Park: The Willows
on Apr 13, 2023 at 10:57 pm
Rick, Menlo Park: The Willows
Registered user
on Apr 13, 2023 at 10:57 pm

My condolences to the family and friends of the cyclist. The last comment mentioned the road conditions and the need to constantly look behind. It sounded scary. I urge every cyclist to have a rear view mirror. Once, when I rode without one because mine had broken, I felt as vulnerable as I would without a helmet. Please, everyone, be as safe as you can.


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