OC Register News Article

"Capistrano bicyclist killed in Dana Point
A truck hits and kills a Capistrano Beach man on the on-ramp to the southbound I-5 in Dana Point, police say.
By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ and KIMBERLY EDDS
The Orange County Register

DANA POINT – A bicyclist riding along Pacific Coast Highway was killed in a collision with a truck early Wednesday, authorities said.

The accident occurred at 5:07 a.m. at the PCH on-ramp to the southbound I-5 freeway, California Highway Patrol Officer Denise Quesada said.

The bicyclist, Mario Scalise, 38, of Capistrano Beach, died at the scene.

Scalise was riding a Murray bicycle on the right shoulder of the road near the on-ramp, according to a CHP collision report.

The driver of the red 1986 Mazda truck, Jose Ortega of San Clemente, was approaching the on-ramp at about 55 mph and drifted toward the right shoulder, hitting the bike rider with the front end of the truck, Quesada said.

The rider hit the front windshield of the truck and the roof.

He landed on the right shoulder of the road.


Last year, four pedestrians and bicyclists were hurt or killed in collisions with vehicles on Coast Highway in Dana Point, a short distance from where the accident occurred Wednesday.

The city adopted a plan to spend $350,000 for a route protected by a concrete barrier, then considered a proposal to ban cyclists from the north side of a 1.5-mile stretch on Coast Highway between Palisades Drive and Camino Capistrano.

The ban was not adopted by the city.

Wednesday's accident occurred less than half a mile away from the stretch of road where that ban was considered.

Signs identify that stretch as being off-limits to both pedestrians and bicyclists.

CHP is still investigating the accident and looking to see if the bicyclist was riding in an area restricted for vehicles only, Quesada said."