Update: Man Killed in Strand Wreck Identified
Donn Alexander Sterling's vehicle landed on the shore near the highway after jumping the median and bike path. No one else was injured.
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Update: 9:10 a.m.: The man killed in the Silver Strand Boulevard crash has been identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office as Donn Alexander Sterling, 62, who worked at Coronado's post office.
The San Diego resident's family has been notified. No cause of death was released. It is not yet known why Sterling lost control of the vehicle, according to the medical examiner.
A single-car wreck off Silver Strand Boulevard killed one man Thursday after witnesses spotted the vehicle crashing over curbs and down an embankment to land on its side on the shore.
Firefighters worked to remove the man from the Honda Ridgeline, which landed on the driver's side facing south in Fiddlers Cove Marina. They performed CPR before covering the man's body and carrying him up the embankment.
The victim was a white male who appeared to be in his '50s.
Coronado police Cmdr. Michael Lawton said another motorist reported that the vehicle was being driven in a wreckless manner at about 6:30 p.m.
The caller saw the Ridgeline cross the highway from the southbound lanes, veer into northbound traffic, dip onto the Bayshore Bikeway and into the marina. Several motorists pulled off the highway to try and help, Lawton said.
One witness, Devan Hoskins, said he and another man tried to reach the motorist, whose airbag had deployed. They weren't strong enough to lift the vehicle, so he sent a friend to call 911.
Hoskins, who lives on a boat in the cove, said he turned while crossing a ramp to his home and saw the vehicle “come flying over and land on its side” at the base of the bay.
“I've come upon scenes before, but I've never seen it happen,” Hoskins said.
Hoskins said the driver never cried out for help or responded to attempts to get his attention.
“I tried to bang on windows to wake him up,” Hoskins said.
Coronado police summoned other agencies to make sure no one was thrown from the vehicle into the bay or injured in its path.
No other victims were spotted by the Harbor Police, a Sheriff's helicopter or officers who searched along the bike path.
Accident investigators arrived at the marina around 8 p.m. Lawton said because of the spread-out scene – over about 200 yards – some lanes on the Silver Strand would have to be closed, but that police would attempt to keep part of the highway open during their examination.
As of 9:30 p.m. they remained open.
Lawton said he expects the on-scene investigation to be wrapped up well before the morning commute.
Bosn
11:00 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
My condolances to the family of the man who perished in this accident. It's possible he may have had a medical emergency. There aren't many places to pull over on the strand if he needed to before passing out. The strand is a dangerous road. Not only for vehicles, but for bicyclists and joggers as well. When I run or ride my bike on the Strand, I'm always conscious of the fact that there are vehicle traveling at 65/70 MPH just feet away. I always imagine what I would do if a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed lost control and came careening directly at me. I've come to the conclusion that there's nothing I or anyone else could do. Riding, running, or walking along the bike path is no different than walking on the edge of the freeway. Why are pedestrians prohibited from walking on the freeway, but not on the bike path. This accident proved that at any minute a vehicle could leave the roadway and wipe out an entire family enjoying an evening bike ride. There needs to be barriers installed along the strand separating vehicular traffic from pedestrians and bicyclists. It's only a matter of time.
Dave Fenner
11:06 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
Wonder who would pay for that barrier. Another project for taxpayers to take on. Let's be realistic. The chances of that happening is VERY remote. But, then, I guess a tsunami could also cause a problem. You know, there are risks in life we just have to deal with. but the bike path is separated from the highway, for a reason. .
Mike G
3:00 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Has there EVER been an instance of a vehicle hitting a pedestrian or cyclist on the strand bike path? Not to my recollection. Will it ever happen? Probably. Will any amount of precautions provide 100% safety? No. I agree with Dave. Life involves risk. When your number comes up there isn't a damn thing you can do about it.
Sea Angel1991
8:48 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Last night during the late night news my initial thoughts were of that "must be another medical or physiological condition to cause such scenario." I have personally known of three other incidents wherein the driver himself suffered from a medical condition that killed "him." The last previous one occured while "retired sailor" was about to enter a freeway but ended up on the side of the ramp. Let us enjoy nature the way it should be. Human and it's likeness can not stop or prevent many events. For the meantime my prayers goes to the family of this retired sailor and hope that his son and his family will return safely from their planned vacation (but had to return less than 48 hours after reaching their destination) to be together with relatives.