Tandem-Bike Victims Were Outside Lane, Police Say

A Carlsbad man and his 17-year-old daughter, who was killed after being struck by a hit-and-run motorist, were riding their tandem bike outside the bicycle lane, said a Carlsbad police officer.

“They were not in the bike lane, but about a foot and a half into the right lane,” said Officer Peter Lopez, who investigated the accident.

The two were struck from behind shortly before 7 p.m. Monday as they rode their bike on Carlsbad Boulevard north of Poinsettia Lane.

Brandy Flaming, who was riding on the rear seat of the tandem, died at the scene. She had just moved to Carlsbad last week to live with her father, Jerry Flaming.

Jerry Flaming, 48, was listed in critical condition at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla on Wednesday, suffering from massive head injuries, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Lopez said it has not been determined how fast the vehicle was traveling but the speed limit in the area is 50 m.p.h.

Under the law, Lopez said, bicyclists must stay inside designated bicycle lanes unless they are passing.

The bicycle lane where the two were riding is at least 6 feet wide, Lopez said.

Police said they were able to make an arrest after the accident because a witness chased the suspect down and talked him into returning to the scene.

William J. Meiss, 51, of San Marcos was booked into the County Jail at Vista on Monday night on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run driving, and drunken driving causing injury.

Meiss, who posted $10,000 bail, was out of jail by 1 a.m. Tuesday, a spokeswoman at the jail said.

Both bicyclists were wearing helmets.