Triathlete Killed in MTA Bus Collision

A female bicyclist training for an upcoming triathlon was killed after crashing into a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus Saturday afternoon in Malibu.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, 36 year old Marisela Echeverria was riding eastbound in the 25000 block of Pacific Coast Highway when she apparently struck her handlebars on a parked vehicle, which sent her swerving into the side of the MTA bus.

After colliding with the bus, she was dragged underneath it for a short time before being run over by the rear tires. She was pronounced dead at the scene by responding police officers.

At this time the driver of the bus has not suffered any criminal punishments, though a more thorough investigation into the accident has begun. All MTA buses have video recording on board, and police will be reviewing the tapes from the accident to better determine what happened.

Brad Hall, Echeverria’s coach, said that she was training for the upcoming Ironman Arizona triathlon. This was her second attempt at participating in such a race, as her previous try was thwarted by a family tragedy. “She had initially trained… for Ironman Canada, and tragically her father passed away the night before, so she was unable to complete that race”, said Hall.

To fulfill her goal, and to honor her father, she was determined to participate in a triathlon by the end of the year. “We chose Ironman Arizona to be the race that she honored herself and her father. She trained to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.”

Hall also noted that he believed that several cars along the side of the road were parked too close, not leaving enough room for bikes to get by safety. In the wake of this accident, he is asking everyone who parks on the side of this busy highway to consider leaving enough space to avoid this kind of danger.

If you or someone you know has been serious hurt or killed in a bicycle accident such as this, you should seek help. There are legal options available to you to help you recover compensation in the name of mending the damages you’re suffered. With the help of a highly trained Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer, you can get the full amount that you legally deserve.

At AA Accident Attorneys, we can lead you though this complicated legal process, and start you on your road to a full recovery. Rest east, we will not charge you anything for our services until your case has been won. Call us today for a free evaluation and to learn how our bicycle accident lawyers can help!