Driver Faces Charges in Bicyclist’s Death

San Diego police said Thursday that they are seeking a misdemeanor manslaughter charge against one of two drivers involved in a Sept. 21 accident that killed a 16-year-old La Jolla high school student.

Cortland Daniel Goldberg, an honors student and three-sport athlete who wanted to become a marine biologist, was killed just before dusk that Saturday when he was struck by a car at a Crown Point intersection while riding his brother’s bicycle.

His death was the fourth this year in San Diego involving bicyclists killed by motor vehicles, authorities said.

Sgt. Michael Healey of the department’s traffic investigation detail said police will ask the city attorney to file charges against Joseph Anthony Alessi, 29, of San Diego, in connection with the incident.

The accident reportedly occurred as Alessi attempted to make a left turn from a stop sign from Corona Oriente onto Crown Point Drive.

Police said Alessi apparently miscalculated and pulled out in front of a car driven by 20-year-old Aimee Barber of San Diego, which was southbound on Crown Point Drive.

Alessi’s car broadsided the other vehicle and then continued on, striking Goldberg, who was stopped and straddling the bicycle in the southwest corner of the intersection.

Goldberg, who suffered head and internal injuries, died an hour later at UC San Diego Medical Center while undergoing surgery.

“You could see by the tire marks that the boy was apparently standing in the handicapped ramp along the sidewalk,” Sgt. Healey said.

Authorities said no charges are being sought against Barber. Neither driver could be reached for comment Thursday.

According to his mother, Goldberg was an advanced student with an IQ of 147 who competed in surfing, water polo and swimming while taking college-level courses in high school.

On the day he died, Goldberg had scored four goals to lead his team to victory in a high school water polo tournament before taking a ride on his brother’s racing bike.

Police on Thursday called the accident “a freak event” and said the intersection had not been previously identified as overly dangerous.

“This was an extremely unfortunate situation,” Sgt. Healey said, “that a young man with so many things left undone in his life was on that corner at that moment. You just wish that he wasn’t there.”