Bicyclist hit, injured at Hwy. 101 intersection

Encinitas - The county Sheriff’s Department reported that a man riding his bicycle was injured yesterday afternoon when he was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of North Coast Highway 101 and A Street.  The man, 33, was riding south within the bicycle lane around 2 p.m. when he was hit by a pickup.  He suffered a head injury, broken bones and was unconscious by the time deputies arrived.  The incident was investigated by the Sheriff’s Department. 

Injured passenger on bus awarded $14 million

Los Angeles – Jurors decided the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority should pay $13.8 million to a bus passenger who was partially paralyzed in a crash with a parked big-rig.  Joseph L. Garcia, now 58, was riding the bus west on Santa Monica Boulevard on June 25, 2005, when the bus hit the truck.  All six passengers on the bus were injured, but Garcia was the most seriously hurt, with permanent brain damage and paralysis on his left side.  The jury deliberated a day before returning a verdict Thursday.  MTA spokesman Rick Jager said the agency accepted the verdict.  “It as an unfortunate situation,” he said.  “We had maintained all along that we would cover his medical expenses and tried to settle the case.”

Motorcyclist killed in crash

Chula Vista – Authorities reported that an active-duty Navy man was killed yesterday after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing on Otay Lakes Road.  Until his family is notified, his name will be withheld.  The man was riding eastbound on Otay Lakes Road east of Wueste Road slightly before 3 p.m. when he was unable to negotiate a curve.  The motorcycle went off the right shoulder and hit a large rock, throwing the rider.  A CHP officer said the man was wearing a helmet but suffered major head injuries and was declared dead at the scene. 

Pedestrian injured by trolley near Convention Center

Yesterday a pedestrian was hospitalized after she was clipped by a San Diego Trolley while walking near the Convention Center.  It was around 8:20 a.m. when she was injured.  Trolley service along the Orange Line was disrupted for approximately an hour as the First Avenue station at the Convention Center was closed.  Around 9:30 a.m., one track re-opened so service could continue.  The woman injured was taken to a hospital by ambulance.  Her condition was unknown.Foster mother accused of killing 2-year-old boy

San Diego – A foster mother, 47, will be arraigned tomorrow on suspicion of killing a 2-year-old boy who was under her care.  Tuesday evening, Linda Coleman surrendered to San Diego police after autopsy results for Malachi Roberts-McBride revealed that his cause of death was from blunt-force trauma to the head.  Yesterday, Coleman was being held without bail at the Vista Detention Facility.  The two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in the Mountain View neighborhood of San Diego, had three other children living there as well.  Those children were brought to the Polinsky Children’s Center.  Two of the three children, ages 9 and 11, are Coleman’s grandchildren.  The third child is another foster child who is 2-years-old.  Coleman resided in a gated complex where her neighbors barbecued with their families and played softball.  A lot of the neighbors said they were aware of the boy being in the hospital but didn’t know he had died.  “I’m just shocked,” said Sashi Davis.  “We thought it was some kind of accident.”  Police said that Coleman was the only adult home when the toddler was injured last week.  Her grandchildren were not there.  On June 27th, Coleman called 911 claiming that the boy was having seizures and difficulty breathing.  The child was taken to Rady’s Children’s Hospital and Health Center, where physicians concluded that he had a brain injury and bruising to his body.  It became clear that the boy would not survive.  Police were notified.  Around noon on Friday the toddler died.  Homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney said that an autopsy on Sunday confirmed the detectives’ belief that the boy died from blunt-force trauma and a brain injury.  It also showed that Coleman’s story didn’t match up with the injuries on the child’s body.  At 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Coleman surrendered to detectives at police headquarters.  The toddler had been in Coleman’s care for three months.