The bicycle that 11-year-old Joshua Rodriguez was riding when hit by a county transit bus while crossing Memorial Drive was not equipped with “brakes that were operational,” according to a statement released by the Hollister Police Department Friday afternoon.
The police department did not clarify in the statement whether Rodriguez had been wearing a helmet. Police released the statement slightly more than five weeks after Rodriguez was hit and killed by the bus.
The Free Lance is pressing for the release of information on the helmet while citing provisions of the California Public Records Act.
“It is unknown if not having brakes contributed to Joshua riding onto the roadway as the bus was completing the right turn,” read the statement.
An investigation revealed Rodriguez was riding a friend’s bicycle northbound on the west sidewalk of Memorial Drive just south of Verdun Avenue, according to the statement from the department.
Rodriguez then left the sidewalk and rode onto the southbound lanes of Memorial Drive near the intersection with Verdun and into the path of a transit bus that was turning onto Memorial Drive from Verdun Avenue, alleged the statement. The bus had been stopped at the stop sign with Memorial Drive and was just completing a right hand turn when the impact occurred in the southbound lane, the release explained.
Until Friday afternoon, Police had yet to comment on a narrative of what may have occurred at the scene July 27 at Memorial Drive and Verdun Avenue, whether they believe any negligence was involved or if the boy was wearing a helmet.
“The Hollister Police Department would like to offer again our deepest condolences to the Rodriguez Family. Our thoughts are with them and all of Joshua’s friends,” reads the press release. “The police department will not comment any further on this case and respect the privacy of the Rodriguez family and all those involved.”
A statement from Hollister Police Chief David Westrick before the release of the boy’s identity said that the victim was given CPR on scene and transported by ambulance to the hospital where—despite “prolonged life-saving efforts”—he was pronounced deceased.
According to the initial statement, the other involved party, the bus driver, was located and “contacted at the scene of the incident.”
