Bicyclist Struck, Killed by Car

A 28-year-old Santa Clarita city employee riding a bicycle was struck and killed by a car in Val Verde, authorities said Thursday.

James Pontius III of Santa Clarita was riding with another cyclist east on Hasley Canyon Road at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday when he was hit by a car driven by Melvin Daughtry of Val Verde, California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Munday said.

Daughtry, 39, apparently did not see the cyclists and turned left onto Del Valle Road, striking Pontius.

Pontius struck the windshield and suffered fatal head injuries, Munday said. He was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:14 p.m.

Officers did not arrest Daughtry, but may ask the district attorney’s office to file vehicular manslaughter charges against him, Munday said. The other cyclist was not injured.