Hit-and-run fatality was MCRD San Diego officer

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | August 25, 2005 | Debbi Farr Baker

[Chieftain]

The bicyclist killed in a hit-and-run early Tuesday morning has been identified as Marine Capt. Patrick Michael Klokow of Santa Clara, an Iraq war veteran.

Klokow, 29, was commanding officer of an instructional training company at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, said Janice Hagar, a base spokeswoman.

As an artillery officer with the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Klokow served in Kuwait from January 2003 to March 2003 and was then deployed in Iraq until July 2003, Hagar said.

Klokow graduated from the Naval Academy in 1999 and had been stationed at the recruit depot since September 2003.

He is survived by his wife, an active duty Marine deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. She is based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.

Klokow was riding his bike on Kearny Villa Road near the southbound state Route 163 on-ramp when he was hit by a driver who did not stop. Klokow was then hit by two other vehicles, whose drivers did stop.

San Diego police questioned and then released the driver of a badly damaged minivan in the area, The van was impounded for forensic testing.

[Chieftain]

Senseless, our nation lost a good Marine officer, educated at the Naval Academy, Iraq War veteran who doing a great job for our nation's security commanding recruit training.

[thoughtomator]

We need to get out of San Diego NOW before more American troops die.

[Chieftain]

We lost a great military asset due to an idiot driver!

[Dante3]

How sad.

[Logophile]

Klokow was riding his bike on Kearny Villa Road near the southbound state Route 163 on-ramp when he was hit by a driver who did not stop. Klokow was then hit by two other vehicles, whose drivers did stop.

So there were three hit-and-run drivers. What is wrong with these people?

[Howie66]

Willing to bet that the driver that fled the scene was/is a wetback....err....ILLEGAL ALIEN.....err....UNDOCUMENTED WORKER.....err....fill in the blank____________?

[Howie66]

"Klokow was riding his bike on Kearny Villa Road near the southbound state Route 163 on-ramp when he was hit by a driver who did not stop. Klokow was then hit by two other vehicles, whose drivers did stop.

So there were three hit-and-run drivers. What is wrong with these people?"

No. There was one driver that fled the scene. The other two stopped to render aid. Cut them a little slack, okay?

[DumpsterDiver]

So there were three hit-and-run drivers.

Nope.

What is wrong with these people?

Reading too fast? :^)

"...he was hit by a driver who did not stop. Klokow was then hit by two other vehicles, whose drivers did stop."

[doug from upland]

My son is a cyclist and I really worry about him. I sometimes think it is as dangerous as working at 7-11.

[Logophile]

Oops. I was exceeding my reading speed limit.

Three drivers hit him, but just one ran. That makes me feel a bit better.

[DumpsterDiver]

Three drivers hit him, but just one ran. That makes me feel a bit better.

It IS nice finding out that not everybody is a rat ba$tard, isn't it. It renews my faith in mankind when it happens.

[Howie66]

Hey, it's not like I hadn't committed the same faux pas (ewwwww....french lingo, here) in the past. Good thing you & I ain't samuri, eh? Things could really get messy.....

[Howie66]

"We need to get out of San Diego NOW before more American troops die."

ROTFFLMAO!!

I went through boot camp in Diego....lovely place! If I NEVER see it again, it'll be too soon!

[TXBubba]

No one seemed to mention that this guy maybe shouldn't have been cycling in area that has so many cars. It's got so bad here in Austin that people are calling for tags on bikes and insurance on them also. They think they are king of the road...and the roads they are riding on are the busiest, hilliest, and most dangerous in town.

[359Henrie]

See, if one bill Gil get his way the driver would have a license and proper training and insurance.

[Logophile]

No one seemed to mention that this guy maybe shouldn't have been cycling in area that has so many cars. It's got so bad here in Austin that people are calling for tags on bikes and insurance on them also. They think they are king of the road...and the roads they are riding on are the busiest, hilliest, and most dangerous in town.

As someone who both drives and rides a bicycle, I can appreciate both sides. As you have observed, too many cyclists ride dangerously. They seem almost to have a death wish.

On the other hand, I have never seen anyone riding a bicycle while talking on a cell phone and eating lunch.

[TXBubba]

Oh, it's probably happened! :D

One anecdotal story on the radio not long ago was the lady that saw the Dad riding in all his biking gear pulling a baby cart behind. Only he was on an extrememly busy road. When he would stop at the lights his kid was next to everyone's tailpipes on the cars. Her question was why do we have to put kids in carseats in cars yet let them by with just a helmut on the tail of a bike?

[cgk]

Captain was killed in hit-run accident

By Michael Stetz
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

August 28, 2005

It was no joy ride. It was a ride to remember Patrick Klokow, the bicyclist who was killed in a hit-and-run accident Tuesday morning.

More than 100 riders took part in the ceremonial ride yesterday, and they were trying to burn off their anger and sorrow.

Those were the two most prevalent emotions.

Klokow was 29. He was a Marine. And he was an Iraq war veteran.

"He could survive Iraq, but he couldn't survive San Diego traffic," said Cassandra Killion, noting the tragic irony. "This guy spent time under fire and someone hit him and left him to die."

The bicyclists rode from Encinitas to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. Klokow was killed near the base as he was riding on Kearny Villa Road, near the state Route 163 ramp.

Police arrested Jose Luis Cifuentes, 58, later in the week in connection with Klokow's death.

The biking community is close-knit, said riders. When they heard the news, they were stunned.

"It hits close to home. It touches you. I got this sinking feeling," said Harold Katkov, a member of the Swami's Cycling Club.

It was that group and Tri Club San Diego that organized the memorial ride. Klokow was a triathlete and belonged to the Tri Club.

Klokow's wife is a Marine (helicopter pilot) as well and another hearty athlete.

"It's heart-wrenching. They were one brave couple. They're a super couple," said Sumi Gross. She was busy snipping red ribbon into little pieces for riders to wear.

Klokow, of Santa Clara, was a captain and was stationed at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot as the commanding officer of the instructional training company.

A Naval Academy graduate, he served in Kuwait from January through March 2003 and was then sent to Iraq, where he served until July 2003.

"Everybody's upset," said Robert "Doc" Burke, of La Jolla, a member of the Tri Club who had ridden with Klokow.

"He was a nice guy. A nice guy minding his own business."

Most bicyclists interviewed said the streets are hardly safe for bike riders these days. Traffic is worsening and many motorists are unwilling to share the road.

Most said they have had close calls.

Phil Paris, a Tri Club member, had spent Friday evening hanging out with friends who are surfers. They do dangerous stuff, he noted.

"And they all think I'm the crazy one because I ride a bike five days a week," he said.

---

---

Stories from the original accident are pretty horrific. They say Klokow was hit possibly 3 times: first by the hit & run, then run over by a delivery truck and possibly a bus. Both those drivers stopped. Praying for his wife.

---

Klokow was also the hero son of a WWII hero: Legacy: The legacy of the Wolf Pack's service to country

If you follow the link under his father's picture, you find info about him near the bottom of the page. Such a tragic loss.

Captain was killed in hit-run accident

By Michael Stetz
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

August 28, 2005

It was no joy ride. It was a ride to remember Patrick Klokow, the bicyclist who was killed in a hit-and-run accident Tuesday morning.

More than 100 riders took part in the ceremonial ride yesterday, and they were trying to burn off their anger and sorrow.

Those were the two most prevalent emotions.

Klokow was 29. He was a Marine. And he was an Iraq war veteran.

"He could survive Iraq, but he couldn't survive San Diego traffic," said Cassandra Killion, noting the tragic irony. "This guy spent time under fire and someone hit him and left him to die."

The bicyclists rode from Encinitas to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. Klokow was killed near the base as he was riding on Kearny Villa Road, near the state Route 163 ramp.

Police arrested Jose Luis Cifuentes, 58, later in the week in connection with Klokow's death.

The biking community is close-knit, said riders. When they heard the news, they were stunned.

"It hits close to home. It touches you. I got this sinking feeling," said Harold Katkov, a member of the Swami's Cycling Club.

It was that group and Tri Club San Diego that organized the memorial ride. Klokow was a triathlete and belonged to the Tri Club.

Klokow's wife is a Marine (helicopter pilot) as well and another hearty athlete.

"It's heart-wrenching. They were one brave couple. They're a super couple," said Sumi Gross. She was busy snipping red ribbon into little pieces for riders to wear.

Klokow, of Santa Clara, was a captain and was stationed at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot as the commanding officer of the instructional training company.

A Naval Academy graduate, he served in Kuwait from January through March 2003 and was then sent to Iraq, where he served until July 2003.

"Everybody's upset," said Robert "Doc" Burke, of La Jolla, a member of the Tri Club who had ridden with Klokow.

"He was a nice guy. A nice guy minding his own business."

Most bicyclists interviewed said the streets are hardly safe for bike riders these days. Traffic is worsening and many motorists are unwilling to share the road.

Most said they have had close calls.

Phil Paris, a Tri Club member, had spent Friday evening hanging out with friends who are surfers. They do dangerous stuff, he noted.

"And they all think I'm the crazy one because I ride a bike five days a week," he said.

Klokow was also the hero son of a WWII hero: Legacy: The legacy of the Wolf Pack's service to country

If you follow the link under his father's picture, you find info about him near the bottom of the page. Such a tragic loss.

[Chuckster]

This is just what I need to read just before getting on my bike for my evening commute!

[SoCalPol]

The driver was a Mexican, what else. Hit and run.
After being cought, tried to lie out of it.