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Memorial Held For Bicyclist, 20, Killed In Hit-And-Run Crash

 

VENTURA (CBS) — Family and friends of Nick Haverland gathered under the rain at a Ventura County park Sunday to remember the 20-year-old bicyclist, whose life was cut short at the hands of a suspected drunk driver.

Hundreds attended the memorial at Arroyo Verde Park and many remarked that Haverland would have loved the wet, cloudy weather.

"We've been watching the weather report all week long, on the one hand not wanting rain," said Haverland's aunt, Ann Christian. "But on the other hand...Nick would be thrilled because he loved the rain and how often does it rain in Ventura in June?"

Family members chose to hold the memorial at the park because Haverland loved being outdoors, especially when he was on his bike.

Haverland was killed when he was struck in the bicycle lane near Mara and Telegraph Wednesday night.

Detectives say Haverland was hit by 49-year-old Satnam Singh, who got into three DUI crashes while driving his green Hummer that night.

Singh barricaded himself inside the vehicle outside his home for 20 minutes before he was finally arrested.

"I didn't really believe it at first," said Dylan Blossom, a friend of Haverland's family. "It took a long time for it to sink in. It's still really hard, thinking about it right now."

Witnesses say Haverland and his friend were headed to Ventura College to take a final examination.

Ventura police say Singh is also responsible for two earlier crashes on the same street. A woman and her 13-year-old daughter were hospitalized with broken bones after he allegedly slammed into their bikes.

A mother, father and their 16-year-old son also complained of injuries after Singh plowed into their pickup truck, according to police.

About 200 people got together Sunday to remember Haverland's life -- a life cut tragically short.

"I want to remember a young man who was full of love and had a love for life," Christian said.

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