A Santa Clara driver suffered fractures to his ribs and back after a mob of bicyclists brutally assaulted him following an accident involving one of them.
This is the latest in a string of violent incidents involving large groups of bicyclists, popularly known as “ride outs”, a rapidly growing trend where large, often informal groups of cyclists — from dozens to thousands — gather to ride through city streets.
It was a normal Saturday drive for John Hidalgo through Santa Clara, until it wasn’t.
“On my left side, I have fractured rib number 12,” Hidalgo said. “And my number two lumbar vertebrae was fractured. You know, might not look like I’m severely injured, but, you know, I am in pain.”
Hidalgo says his car was hit by someone on an e-bike who ran a red light.
A larger group also on bicycles arrived shortly after and blamed him for the accident.
Video shared on social media shows the group brutally beating, kicking, and jumping on Hildalgo, and destroying his car.
“I was just fighting for my life, you know?” Hildalgo said. “I mean, you don’t really have time to think. It is unbelievable. But it’s starting to become kind of the norm now.”
Hidalgo believes this group was part of a ‘ride out’, an informal bike gathering where riders take over streets, sometimes doing dangerous stunts.
Our cameras captured video of another ‘ride out’ on Highway 101 in San Jose, where bike riders were slowing traffic behind them.
We’ve also recently reported on other ‘ride outs’ that turned violent, including one where a man was attacked near San Francisco’s Aquatic Park
“It’s disheartening when you think about innocent people who are getting affected by this,” Hidalgo said. “The next time it happens, are they going to kill someone? Is somebody going to be tired of what they’re doing and run them over?”
The social media video shows the group ride through both Santa Clara and San Jose.
The Santa Clara Police Dept. says they are aware of the video and are investigating the incident.
SCPD Detectives ask any witnesses or anyone with evidence and/or additional information to contact Detective Allsup at rallsup@santaclaraca.gov.
Alternatively, those who wish to remain nameless can leave a message on the SCPD Anonymous Tip Line at (408) 615-4TIP (4847).
“We see these kids all the time swerving into traffic, swerving on the sidewalks, trying to hit people, we got to put a stop to it,” Hidalgo said. “When people are getting injured and violent crimes are happening, I don’t think that’s too much to ask for.”
Hidalgo says he was lucky and worries the next person may not be.