This is heartbreaking. I can't imagine the pain that his family and friends are experiencing.

If anyone knows the details of the collision (location within the intersection, the paths of the truck and the cyclist, etc.), I would like to learn them. I find coverage of crashes frustrating - it almost always lacks the information necessary to understand the circumstances that led to the crash.

Just yesterday (Wednesday) at around 11:45 AM, I was driving from Grant Road - intending to turn right onto East ECR. After my light turned green, there were at least 4 or 5 cars that continued crossing the intersection from the opposite direction, turning left against their red light. It happens all the time at this intersection.

Please update the article to not call it an accident. Even without our knowing the details of this incident, the intersection is extremely hazardous for anyone passing through it in general. Serious improvements need to be made there, and calling this an accident implies nothing could have been done to prevent it. Also, in followup articles, those responsible for the infrastructure there should be asked to weigh in with details about anticipated improvements. As a starting point, speed limit and red-light running laws need to be actively enforced there.

Free Speech tells a very familiar story. I cross this intersection twice a day and each time there are multiple cars that continue to turn to ECR east from 237 westbound well after the light turns red. Also many cars turning right to eastbound ECR from Grant Rd fail to stop 1st on a red light. I rarely see any red light enforcement by police at this intersection. As for bicyclists which I am one, many travel against the flow of traffic making the overall situation more dangerous for all. Again, no police enforcement for riding the wrong way on a bike. The situation will continue to be dangerous unless we have better enforcement of our traffic laws.

the truck driver should be presumed to be at fault and arrested. They failed to control their vehicle. Their job must include the absolute requirement to not kill others.

The scene was in the crosswalk, 3rd lane, right at the corner in front of the USA gasoline west side, the kid was probably heading north to Ghram Middle School. It's possible the bicyclist went when they weren't supposed to and the drive started driving not knowing the biker was in front of the vehicle.

What a terrible tragedy. This is every parent's nightmare. And, actually, it's every driver's nightmare too.

I want to live in a world where 13 year olds can bike to school safely. All we need is some safe biking infrastructure. Let's redouble our efforts to make sure this never happens again.

"The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members."
- Gandhi

"In light of Thursday's fatal crash, the city of Mountain View will work with Caltrans, the state agency responsible for El Camino Real, to determine whether any changes should be made to the bike lanes and pedestrian improvements that are currently being planned on the road, police said."

I can make few suggestions:

1. A dedicated right turn traffic light.

2. Dedicated traffic lights for bicycles (similar to Almond and San Antonio in Los Altos).

3. El Camino Real center divider bicycle lane (similar to El Monte in Los Altos Hills). Traffic lights at the intersection will control the bicycle traffic.

4. Police motorcycles during school hours.

5. For schools, more lenient tardy policy.

So sad.... This could have been avoided if there is proper traffic control at that light.

1) No right turn on Red is a start. Drivers are always forced to look left for cars coming and not look right for pedestrians or bikers as they come up
2) Control the light enough time for cars on Grant to get out... it is timed so short that there is always a backup and people are just trying to rush out since they have been stuck for 5-10 mins on Grant between Martens and El Camino... The light is currently configured to allow most of El Camino traffic to flow more... for the buses....

That intersection area has a history of sad occurrences and deaths. A woman died in a crash with her daughter when I was taking my kids to school near there years ago. The homeless man who died on a bench from the cold near the Walgreens. The clerk who was stabbed to death at the Hollywood Video (before it was a Sweet Tomatoes) during a robbery, and a motorcyclist who died under the nearby overpass after getting hit by a truck. Probably more accidents have occurred there as well, though those are the instances I remember.

There need to be pedestrian+bike overpasses on both sides of
El Camino and on both sides of Grant/SR237, preventing all possible
vehicle collisions with pedestrians or bikes. All ramps leading to
these overpasses need to be wheelchair-accessible. Designs for
overpasses and ramps should be open for public review prior to
approval and construction.

Also, bikes must always be walked while on ramps and overpasses,
to prevent collisions between bikes and pedestrians.

I think we've all seen problems at that intersection.

It's a freeway. SR 237 is a freeway. And a vital connection. People who travel it are in a hurry.
SR 82 is a vital route.
Separate the cars from the people. Off-ramps and over-passes.

Road diet, intersection cameras, speedbumps will not save lives in an arterial traffic section. No right on red and pulling people over for tickets just means that the police are already busy giving one ticket means so they won't catch the next guy running the light. Making your aorta small will only raise your blood pressure. More people will gun it through the yellow that way.

Nobody likes building or widening freeways, but we need them. To save lives. To reduce traffic.

And with regard to environmental concerns: We all know that cars stopping/starting/braking/accelerating use more gasoline AND/OR more electricity than vehicles moving a steady fast speed. They use more energy and they're more pollutive.

And none of these, nor the arguing about it, is going to bring that child back. :(

I'm sorry, I got a bit worked up and didn't make my most salient point:

We don't have this problem at the Milpitas terminus of SR 237. It's an overpass/cloverleaf.

I think I've heard it all now that I have heard someone claim that widening highways saves lives and reduces traffic.

Web Link

In Los Angeles, every major intersection near schools has a crossing gaurd during the hours the kids are going to and from school. It seems trivial, but the crossing gaurds help save many lives daily. Maybe this unfortunate situation will remind those in authority that we can't put a price tag on our children's lives and safety. Crossing guards need to be at dangerous intersections like this to look out for the children going to and from school.

Why does it say his name was George Oseida when everywhere else it says his name was Andre Retana?

I support Chris Aoki's suggestion and propose overpasses to also be considered for multiple other dangerous intersections around the city.

This is heartbreaking! Our deepest sympathy to the family and even to the truck driver.

It is these kinds of tragedies that we are seeking to prevent in our work on truly sustainable urban transportation at SJSU. Unfortunately with everything (cars, trucks, buses, bicyclists, pedestrians, pets, etc.) competing for the same space at the street level, these kinds of collisions will happen. We are working for a better transportation system where the heavy machinery is vertically separated from people at street level: Web Link