ENCINITAS, Calif. -- Sheriff's investigators said Monday they have developed new information in the search for a hit-and-run driver who killed a well-known Southern California bicyclist over the weekend.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said 47-year-old Jim Swarzman was hit by pickup truck around 1 a.m. on Sunday at the 1200 block of North Coast Highway. He was with several other cyca lists when he was struck by the driver.
Investigators originally described the pickup as a blue, late model Ford F150. Monday afternoon, after further investigation, they said that the vehicle that hit Swarzman was a 2007-8 Dodge Ram 1500 or a 2007-9 Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500. The pickup that hit Swarzman will have damage to the passenger-side headlight area, investigators said.
According to the Sheriff's Department, the driver of the truck that struck Swarzman, never stopped to offer aid. The cyclist was airlifted to Scripps Mercy Hospital, where he later died.
"The witness does believe that there's no way he should not have known that he hit someone," said Sheriff's Traffic Deputy Yvan Rogers, who is leading the investigation. "Based on the evidence at the scene that there was significant damage to the vehicle."
A witness following the truck just before the fatal accident told deputies the truck drifted between lanes before hitting Swarzman from behind.
"The driver could be facing felony hit and run, among some other charges," said Rogers. "We don't know if alcohol was involved, as a factor of the accident."
Swarzman was an Encino resident. He wrote a blog about cycling in which he described a rigorous training schedule requiring hundreds of miles of cycling a week.
The Sheriff's Department is imploring the public to come forward with any information that will help lead them to the suspect in the case.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said 47-year-old Jim Swarzman was hit by pickup truck around 1 a.m. on Sunday at the 1200 block of North Coast Highway. He was with several other cyca lists when he was struck by the driver.
Investigators originally described the pickup as a blue, late model Ford F150. Monday afternoon, after further investigation, they said that the vehicle that hit Swarzman was a 2007-8 Dodge Ram 1500 or a 2007-9 Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500. The pickup that hit Swarzman will have damage to the passenger-side headlight area, investigators said.
According to the Sheriff's Department, the driver of the truck that struck Swarzman, never stopped to offer aid. The cyclist was airlifted to Scripps Mercy Hospital, where he later died.
"The witness does believe that there's no way he should not have known that he hit someone," said Sheriff's Traffic Deputy Yvan Rogers, who is leading the investigation. "Based on the evidence at the scene that there was significant damage to the vehicle."
A witness following the truck just before the fatal accident told deputies the truck drifted between lanes before hitting Swarzman from behind.
"The driver could be facing felony hit and run, among some other charges," said Rogers. "We don't know if alcohol was involved, as a factor of the accident."
Swarzman was an Encino resident. He wrote a blog about cycling in which he described a rigorous training schedule requiring hundreds of miles of cycling a week.
The Sheriff's Department is imploring the public to come forward with any information that will help lead them to the suspect in the case.
