Local Cyclist Killed
March 7th, 2008 
0 Comments
Stephen Box forwarded this message from the LA Wheelmen:
Sadly -
Harvey Hetland, loyal LAWheelmen member, excellent cyclist, Grand Tour rider, RAGBRAI rider, and friend of many has lost his life on a bike ride on Wednesday, 03/05/08 …He and his companion, Christie Edinger, were on their way home after riding up to Montrose with the Griffith Park group … They rode up to La Tuna – and on the way down, on a curve with Christie behind him, Harvey was in the lane and was passed on his right by an automobile … He was not hit by the car – but he lost control of his bike and he “went down” … The hospital personnel said “he didn’t make it” …..
So sudden – and so sad …
His church, Westminster Presbyterian, is planning for a memorial service for Harvey next week (626 794 7141) …
The La Tuna Canyon homeowners group (www.latunacanyon.com) would like support for their efforts to make La Tuna safer with slower speeds and a marked bicycle lane. Your help would be appreciated by Harvey and all of his bicycling friends.
Harvey will be missed.
Stay safe …..
Do be safe out there,
AT
Author Info
Man… It sucks to hear that someone dies while riding a bicycle. But if I’m to go, that’s exactly how I’d want to go.
It’s true, it can happen so easily, even to an expert like poor Harvey here.
Bike lanes on La Tuna would be GREAT.
A car should not pass a cyclist going downhill on the right! In a curve nevertheless! WTF??????
Why are we always in such a hurry that we endanger our lives and those of others?!?
Why do people in this city feel entitled to do as they like in their cars?
People die every day in automobile accidents and we as the city still lobby for faster and wider streets. STOP IT ALREADY!
Bring on the street calming and the enforcement! No accident is just that. Drivers killing people get away without any punishment from the system. If a person kills another, they should have their license taken away for good and they should be locked up! If we would punish those who are “too important” to pay attention, then people would be more careful and would think twice about their moves before they endanger someones life.
Sorry for the rant. This pisses me off! Where is the driver?!?!? I want to talk to him!
It was my understanding Harvey was it by a hit and run driver NOT missed by the car. Which is true?
DT,
It’s not really clear. This first email seems to indicate he was not hit by the car. As you noted some reports have said he was hit. I wish it was clarified. I’d like to ask the LA Wheelmen, but I feel like it might be considered crass.
BTW, there will be a Memorial ride, TBD, sometime after the 20th.
I received an e-mail, forwarded to me from a friend who is a friend of Harvey’s. I e-mailed him directly to give my condolences, and just so everyone knows there is to be a memorial service this week. Here’s the info:
Thursday, March 13th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1757 N. Lake (at York), Pasadena, CA .
I sent an e-mail to the La Tuna Canyon Homeowner’s group to see how I can help with their efforts for reduced speeds and possible bike lanes. No response so far. Has anyone else heard more about this effort?
This is truly sad. My best wishes go out to Harvey’s friends and family. We all need to make the commitment to work TOGETHER to make it safer for cyclists everywhere.
Word from the Wheelmen is that they will be discussing a Memorial Ride at their meeting on the 20th.
Where have I been, under a rock? Harvey Hetland died? Harvey Hetland the instructor at PCC? Harvey Hetland, the man helped me pass the FCC exam?