2 killed, 19 injured in Goodyear bicycle crash: What we know so far

Jose R. Gonzalez, Arizona Republic
·4 min read

A pickup plowed through a bicycling group on Feb. 25 in Goodyear, killing a man and woman and injuring many others. Here's all we know so far:

Bicyclists killed were in their 60s

Karen Malisa, 61, of Goodyear and David Kero, 65, of Michigan died in the crash while riding with a bicycling group, West Valley Cycle, shortly before 8 a.m. on Cotton Lane Bridge.

Paul Theisen, a bicyclist with the group, said that Malisa was a former West Valley teacher.

Who else got hurt?

Including Malisa and Kero, a total of 19 people sustained some sort of injury during the incident, according to information from police. Theisen said the group is composed of community members including doctors, lawyers and military veterans.

Theisen, who was about a mile behind the bicycling victims when they were hit by the truck, said about eight people remained hospitalized as of Feb. 27.

The driver:Maricopa County attorney refers criminal charges in fatal Goodyear cyclist collision back to police

West Valley Cycle has a group ride every 7:30 a.m. Saturday starting at Santini Shop in Goodyear, according to information on its website. This would have been around half an hour before the crash happened.

There are three subgroups riding as part of the West Valley Cycle Group, each including about 75-100 bicyclists, according to its website.

Goodyear Police chief Santiago Rodriguez addresses the media at the Goodyear Police Department on Feb. 27, 2023, during a news conference about a fatal crash two days ago, involving a large group of adult bicyclists who were hit by a pick-up truck on the Cotton Lane Bridge.
Goodyear Police chief Santiago Rodriguez addresses the media at the Goodyear Police Department on Feb. 27, 2023, during a news conference about a fatal crash two days ago, involving a large group of adult bicyclists who were hit by a pick-up truck on the Cotton Lane Bridge.

Driver charged with manslaughter, other crimes

In relation to the incident, driver Pedro Quintana-Lujan, 26, of Phoenix, was in jail custody on a $250,000 bond as he faced multiple charges:

  • Two counts of reckless manslaughter; a felony 2.

  • Three counts of aggravated assault, deadly weapon; a felony 3.

  • 18 counts of endangerment; a felony 6.

  • Two counts of accident, serious physical injury or death; a misdemeanor .

Joe Pizzillo, the mayor of Goodyear, addresses the media at the Goodyear Police Department on Feb. 27, 2023, during a press conference about a fatal crash two days ago, involving a large group of adult bicyclists who were hit by a pick-up truck on the Cotton Lane Bridge.
Joe Pizzillo, the mayor of Goodyear, addresses the media at the Goodyear Police Department on Feb. 27, 2023, during a press conference about a fatal crash two days ago, involving a large group of adult bicyclists who were hit by a pick-up truck on the Cotton Lane Bridge.

What led to the crash?

According to police statements and court records, Quintana-Lujan was traveling south on the bridge when, according to what he told police, his Ford F-250's steering locked and his vehicle drifted to the right and into the cyclists.

Quintana-Lujan let off the gas, regaining control of the truck before stopping in the middle of the bridge, according to charging documents. He told police at one point he was driving 40 to 45 mph, later estimating his speed was 45 to 50 mph, according to documents.

Goodyear police Chief Santiago Rodriguez said there was no indication Quintana-Lujan intentionally struck the cyclists or whether speed or impairment were factors.

Police obtained a blood sample from Quintana-Lujan, Rodriguez said. Quintana-Lujan, according to court documents, told police he was headed from Chandler to a contractor job site, telling investigators he smoked marijuana roughly 11 hours before the crash.

How many bicyclists die in accidents?

Statewide in 2021, there were 1,027 crashes involving nonmotorized bicycles, according to the most recent data released by the Arizona Department of Transportation. In those crashes, 45 cyclists died.

Arizona has long been near the top of the list nationally for bike deaths. Often, the cycling community memorialized scenes of fatal collisions with "ghost bikes," bicycles painted entirely in white.

Cyclists often come together to demand safety measures after a fatal crash. That's what happened in August when a popular orange-vested Phoenix ambassador, Hans Hughes was fatally struck on Fillmore Street between Central and Seventh avenues. The city installed new bike lanes as a result.

What's in Goodyear's bike safety plan?

The advocacy group People for Bikes ranked Goodyear 446 out of 1,236 cities for bicycling in 2022.

That year in April a 13-year-old bicyclist was killed in a hit-and-run collision. Goodyear police spokesperson Lisa Berry on Monday said the city considers that and Saturday's crash isolated incidents.

Berry said there will be emergency personnel present at Tour de Cure, a bicycling fundraiser March 18 in Goodyear as organized by the American Diabetes Association. Different city departments have workshops in elementary schools to teach children about bicycling safety, Berry added.

There are bike lanes in the city and more will be added to roadway frontages for any public or private development, city spokesperson Tammy Vo said on Monday.

How can you help?

A GoFundMe purportedly benefiting West Valley Cycle's injured had amassed more than $90,000 of its $120,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon. The fundraiser is trying to shore up $10,000 for each of 12 bicyclists injured.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 2 killed, 19 injured in Goodyear bicycle crash: What we know so far