A Dublin bicyclist was killed and two others injured when their group reportedly ran into a large water truck during a weekend fun run from Danville to Dublin and back. Friends of the cycling group say another member was killed on the same ride in 2006.
Saturday’s accident was reported at 9:45 a.m. on Highland Road near Manning Road, early in the weekend HOP (House of Pain) loop run which starts from the Danville Peet’s coffee shop, wends through Dublin and returns to Danville via relatively sparsely trafficked country roads. It was not immediately known exactly how many were riding in the group Saturday, but the HOP Medium run is usually composed of a “peloton” of several dozen riders from several different riding groups who make the ride under fairly competitive racing rules.
Photo: Dublin cyclist Herman Shum, 40
During Saturday’s run the group reportedly spotted the water truck in its lane and driving safely as they neared Manning Road, witnesses reported, and members of the group called out that a truck was close. It was at that point that riders say a lead rider was forced off into gravel, maneuvered back onto the road and unintentially forced three riders – including 40-year-old Dublin resident Herman Shum – out into the truck’s path, critically injuring Shum and seriously injuring another. Early reports were that Shum suffered traumatic injury and was declared dead at the scene, though life-saving measures were rendered. All three riders were taken to local hospitals with the least seriously injured among them described as “walking wounded.”
No finding of fault has been determined and the California Highway Patrol would say only that their investigation into the accident is underway. The truckdriver stopped at the scene and was cooperating fully. NEWS24-680 could not confirm accounts that riders attempted to console the distraught driver at the scene of the accident.
The names of the other injured riders were not immediately provided. This site’s Facebook page, which boasts a large complement of weekend riders, lit up with questions and expressions of concern – many of them from other riders – as news of the collision and subsequent injuries spread.
Family and friends of Herman Shum are invited to gather for the Mass of Christian Burial at 3 p.m. Saturday, January 10, 2015, at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church, 2555 17th Avenue, in San Francisco. Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm followed by a funeral mass at 3:00 pm. A reception will follow the mass. Herman will be laid to rest at a private ceremony at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Colma.
