Crime & Safety

Venice Cyclist Killed in Santa Monica Hit-and-Run

UPDATED 7:55 p.m.: SUV slams into cyclist late Tuesday night, throwing her bike several blocks before fleeing the scene.

A 29-year-old Venice woman riding her bike on Pacific Coast Highway was killed late Tuesday night when she was struck by a hit-and-run driver near Entrada Drive in Santa Monica.

The woman was identified by authorities Wednesday as Erin Galligan.

She was struck about 11:30 p.m. while riding her bicycle on the busy highway, which was closed after the crash in both directions for several hours. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Galligan was riding southbound and on the right side of the street "like she should," said Sgt. Richard Lewis of the Santa Monica Police Department.

Multiple witnesses said she veered into the No. 3 lane just as the truck was about to pass her. The driver hit her, and drove onto the 10 Freeway without stopping or slowing down.

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Galligan's bike was found in the 700 block of Pacific Coast Highway—about a half mile away from the crash site. The bike traveled with the car to that point, Lewis said.

Police are searching for the driver of the suspect vehicle, described as a white 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 extra cab truck, with damage to the front grill, hood and headlight, similar to the vehicle pictured to the right of this article.

PCH reopened before dawn.

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Anyone with information was asked to contact investigators Chris Dawson or Jason Olson at (310) 458-8954, Sgt. Phillip Rubish at (310) 458-8950 or the Santa Monica Police Department 24/7 line at (310) 458-8495.

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