My worst fears imagined; the “investigation” into the tragic death of 14 year old Leyla Beban on November 26, 2012 has decided it was her fault. You can read my original entry on this, written the day afterward, which asks questions and postulated how things might have gone down more-thoroughly than what’s been released by the police department. Or not. I haven’t seen the actual police report, only on-line stories that might not do justice to the Redwood City Police Department.

I’ve gone through the accident in my mind over and over and over. I have a very hard time understanding how the motorist was not responsible for knowing that someone was on his or her right, whether cyclist or pedestrian. And since there’s no right-hand turn lane there, the motorist must assume that anyone on their right side could be going straight, and have the right of way. Alternatively, if Leyla has actually been seen indicating she would be turning right, the motorist shouldn’t be racing her for the intersection. The family has retained an attorney who specializes in bicycle accidents, so this isn’t the end of it.