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Cyclist Killed Trying to Stop Hit-and-Run Driver From Fleeing Crash Scene, Police Say

A cyclist was killed Monday morning while trying to stop a hit-and-run driver from fleeing the scene after the driver hit his friend in a Long Beach intersection, police said.

Police responded to the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and East Bort Street about 1:17 a.m. after a witness called to report the crash, Long Beach Police Department Detective Watt said.

Two cyclists had been crossing the street at the Long Beach Boulevard offramp of the 91 Freeway when one of them was struck by a 2000 Ford Expedition, according to police.

The second cyclist then jumped on the driver’s side running board of the SUV, reached into the window and tried to turn off the ignition before the driver took off with the man clinging to the side of the vehicle, a Long Beach police news release stated.

Earlier, Watt said the bicyclist jumped on the hood before police released additional information about the incident.

The driver was traveling southbound on Long Beach Boulevard when, several blocks later, he made a turn at a high rate of speed at Bort Boulevard. At that point, the cyclist fell to ground, hitting his head on the curb, the release stated.

The victim, identified only as a 51-year-old resident of Los Angeles, died at the scene. His name has not yet been released.

Authorities initially said the man was in his 30s and died a few minutes after police arrived, but later updated the information.

Witnesses told authorities the driver then circled the block once before abandoning the SUV in the middle of a service road and running off.

Investigators did not provide a description of the driver but said they know who they are looking for.

The bicyclist who was initially struck suffered only minor injuries, Watt said.

A stretch of Long Beach Boulevard between East Bort Street and West Adams Street was closed in both directions due to the crash, but has reopened.