Laguna Beach : Prognosis Poor for Cyclist Who Hit Truck
A bicyclist traveling an estimated 25 m.p.h. down a hill on South Coast Highway was severely injured Tuesday morning when he ran head-on into a turning truck.
The bicyclist suffered “massive head injuries” and “the prognosis is poor,” said Sgt. Greg Bartz. “The doctors give him about a 10% chance” to survive.
The bicyclist, identified as Gino Santoro, 25, an Irvine hairdresser, was heading south along the highway downgrade from Cliff Drive, Bartz said.
A soft-drink delivery truck was stopped in the northbound lanes waiting to turn left into Las Brisas restaurant parking lot, and when a break in traffic came, the truck turned, pulling in f1919905396said.
He said Santoro, who was not wearing a helmet, hit the truck, flew over the handle bars “and apparently rammed head-first into the truck.” The collision was so severe that it left the truck badly dented, Bartz said. “You wouldn’t believe the damage to the truck,” he said.
Santoro was airlifted to the trauma ward at Mission Community Hospital, Mission Viejo, where he was listed in critical condition.
Police identified the truck driver as Victor Javier Ramirez, 25, of Los Alamitos. No citations have been issued.
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