Young girl killed while bicycling near Santee and McQuesten on Dec 31

SVBC is writing to share the tragic news of the seventh San José bicycle related fatality in 2020.   

On December 31, Layla Marie Lemas, age 9, was struck by a 2017 GMC as the truck entered the driveway of an apartment complex near the corner of Santee Dr. and McQuesten Dr. in South San José while she was riding a bicycle. Ms. Lemas was transported to a local hospital, where she very sadly died. Our condolences go out to the girl’s family and friends. 

In addition to the seven fatalities of people biking, there were 20 fatalities of people walking and 22 fatalities of people in vehicles for a total of 49 traffic deaths in 2021 in San José. People bicycling and walking make up a much smaller percent of the people using our roadways and thus, are a disproportionally large percentage of the victims of traffic violence.   

San José is implementing its Vision Zero Plan to make progress toward zero traffic fatalities. San José is prioritizing improving conditions on the 17 Priority Safety Corridors in San José as well as public information on safety as it strives to achieve safer roadways. Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is a member of the San José Vision Zero Taskforce and will continue to advocate for safer roadways for everyone.  

You can engage with us to create a safer San José by joining our SVBC South San José team. To share your thoughts with San José city staff, contact Jesse Mink-Roth, San José’s Vision Zero program manager or your San José councilmember.