By admin 
Police determined that a UC Davis student and avid cyclist veered out of the bike lane and into traffic on Hutchison Drive just before he was struck and killed in April — a conclusion that an advocate and his family say further indicates the need for infrastructure changes to the university road.
Read more UC Davis police determine cyclist caused April crash on Hutchison Drive
The university on Thursday published a partially redacted copy of the UC Davis Police Department’s report detailing investigators’ evidence and conclusions from the April 13 crash that killed 20-year-old Lincoln Sabini.
According to the report, Sabini and the driver of a Honda Crosstour were headed west on the road when the cyclist turned left from the bike lane into the path of the Honda. Police concluded the turn was unsafe and caused the collision. The driver struck Sabini with the right front corner of the Honda, braked and came to rest in the westbound lane. Sabini was ejected from his bike during the crash and collided with the hood, windshield and roof of the Honda.
Authorities said Sabini was pronounced dead after being taken by ambulance to Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center. Sabini’s mother, Rucha Powers, and father, Keith Sabini, believe he died on impact, based on what Powers said on-site EMTs told them.
“Died later at the hospital sounds like he had a chance, and he really didn’t,” Powers told The Sacramento Bee in May.
The Solano County Coroner’s Office later determined Sabini died from a blunt-force head injury.
Many items logged as physical evidence at the scene — outside of vehicle debris, a brown sweater, backpack, U-lock, keys and scuff marks — were blacked out in the report. Black over-the-ear headphones were also found at the site. UC Davis video cameras had captured Sabini riding while wearing similar black headphones near the intersection of Hutchison Drive and West Health Sciences Drive before the crash.
Police determined the Honda driver was going about 35 to 40 mph before the collision, below the 45 mph speed limit. The driver told police she was going about 35 mph and was trying to pass Sabini before the crash happened, and said she was not using her cellphone. She called 911 after the collision several passersby stopped and performed CPR until medical personnel arrived, according to statements from the driver and other witnesses.
A witness who told police he was traveling behind the Honda said Sabini’s sudden turn “looked like it may have been accidental, like the bicycle rider had lost his balance.”
Advocacy continues
Cycling advocates and other community members rallied after his death and have been pushing for better bicycle infrastructure on the portion of Hutchison Drive west of Highway 113. The conclusion made by police does not change that mission, Sabini’s parents said Thursday. If anything, they said, it further proves their point that safer routes are needed for cyclists.
“It’s just proof positive that there should be a separate bike lane for cyclists out there,” said Sabini’s mom Rucha Powers. “A student was trying to get to where he was supposed to go, and he had no room for error.”
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“He’s a strong, confident cyclist. He would not have left the bike lane unless there was an obstacle,” Keith Sabini said Thursday. Lincoln Sabini was a member of the UC Davis triathlon sports club, was involved with the Davis Bike Collective and cycled regularly.
Police said in the report that the reason Sabini turned left was unknown. Investigators found the bicycle’s steering and drivetrain components appeared to have been in working order before the collision.
The section of Hutchison Drive where Sabini was struck — west of Highway 113 — was described by many cyclists as a dangerous spot that is only traveled when necessary.
“It’s the only place on campus where there’s 45 mile an hour (speed limit) with no protection for cyclists who are students going to class,” said Aaron Shaw, a cycling advocate.
Shaw and other community members are working to convince university leaders that changes need to be made to prevent another death. The advocates want protected and separated bike lanes along Hutchison Drive. Specifically, they are pushing for the construction of what they have dubbed the “Lincoln Loop” — a connected loop of bike lanes along Road 98, Hopkins Road and Hutchison Drive.
Powers, Keith Sabini and others met with multiple stakeholders over the summer to discuss improvements. These meetings included representatives from UC Davis, the city of Davis, Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs, whose district includes Davis and southwest Yolo County, and Rep. Mike Thompson, who represents part of Yolo County.
Overall, Powers said it has been a “frustrating,” “disappointing” and “mediocre” process. The university, she said, told them it needed to wait for the police investigation to wrap up before any changes would be made.
A UC Davis spokesperson did not answer specific questions regarding the situation but said in a statement: “UC Davis has a long-standing commitment to bicycle safety, with ongoing investments in training and campus infrastructure to better serve cyclists, scooter riders, and pedestrians. Building on that history, the university set aside $20 million in 2023 for improvements to campus roads and paths and training programs. Additional initiatives, including Moving Forward Together, are in the planning stages.”
Shaw said some parts of Hutchison Drive were restriped and some faded bike lane signs were replaced this summer after he and others brought up the issue. Outside of that, he has felt a lack of action from university leaders.
“We just want them to recognize that there’s a problem,” Shaw said, adding he plans to continue pushing for change.