Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : 2 Die in Traffic Accidents

PALMDALE — Two men--one riding a bicycle and the other a motorcycle--were killed in separate Antelope Valley traffic accidents, authorities said Friday.

The bicyclist, who was carrying no identification, was riding north on 10th Street West near Avenue M-8 at 8:45 p.m. Thursday when he was struck by a 1995 Ford Windstar van, also heading north, deputies said.

The driver of the van apparently had trouble seeing the man because the bicycle did not have lights or reflectors, which state law requires for night riding, sheriff’s Sgt. Gary Olson said. In addition, the bicycle and the man’s clothing were dark-colored, making him even more difficult to see, Olson said.

The bicyclist was taken to Lancaster Community Hospital, where he died, deputies said. The man, who appeared to be Latino and between 30 and 40 years old, had not been identified Friday.

Olson urged anyone with information on his identity to contact the Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Station at (805) 948-8466.

The driver of the van, Trina Grabher, 30, of Lancaster, was not injured and was not cited. Her five children, who were passengers in the van, also escaped uninjured, deputies said.

The other accident occurred at 6:45 a.m. Thursday on Sierra Highway near Mountain Springs Road, just south of Palmdale.

Chad R. Carson, 33, of Palmdale, was passing traffic by crossing the double-yellow line, when a 1993 Ford Thunderbird began turning left into the Vincent Metrolink Station parking lot in front of the motorcycle, California Highway Patrol Officer Jerry Borne said.

The motorcycle slammed into the driver’s door, the officer said. Carson was taken to Desert Palms Community Hospital in Palmdale, where he was pronounced dead at 8:28 a.m.