Family Sues LA Over Bike Lane Removal Before Mother's Death

A California city took down bike lanes before tragedy struck when a heavily pregnant mother was hit by a car while cycling with her family. An 87-year-old driver allegedly caused the accident near an intersection in Playa del Rey this past January, according to The Los Angeles Times. Matthew Graham rode beside his wife, Regan Cole-Graham, who was thirty-six years old at the time. Both she and their three-year-old son were rushed to the hospital after the impact. The toddler survived, but Regan did not. She had been seven months pregnant when the crash happened.

The husband of the deceased mother now blames the city's removal of controversial bike lanes for her sudden death. Brian Breiter, the family attorney, told KTLA 5 News that the safety zone was stripped away. He believes this change was a critical factor in the fatal collision. The Graham family is preparing to sue the city of Los Angeles over the incident. They allege that Pershing Drive lacked proper protection when Regan and her unborn child were killed there.

In May 2017, the city started rolling out lane reductions known as road diets under a Safe Streets for Playa del Rey pilot program. NBC 4 News reported that this move removed traffic lanes in both directions across some areas of the neighborhood. The decision immediately sparked fierce backlash from residents and business owners. These people complained that the cuts triggered relentless traffic jams on daily commutes. Months later, former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti and city councilman Mike Bonin announced a reversal of course. They declared that all lanes removed as part of the bike-safety effort would be restored.

Regan died from her injuries shortly after the collision on Pershing Drive. Doctors were able to deliver her baby girl, named Ophelia, before she passed away. The family now seeks justice for what they see as a preventable disaster caused by poor urban planning choices.

A new life ended just moments after its mother passed away in a tragic accident that has shaken a community near Los Angeles.

Mayor Eric Garcetti admitted during an interview that his pilot program proved lane reductions were not the correct strategy for Playa del Rey, yet he promised to find alternative ways to handle congestion and boost traffic safety. He unveiled a slate of new measures including speed-feedback signs, flashing beacon crosswalks, and additional pedestrian crossings to address the issues. Garcetti stated they possess the will and know-how to implement smart, balanced, and effective solutions that would help accomplish those goals.

Meanwhile, Regan's devastated family is preparing to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles. They allege that the decision to remove bike lanes put cyclists at risk and ultimately led to the deadly crash. Matthew Graham told KTLA this month that he misses his wife every day as he raises their two sons alone. He expressed a desire for whatever it takes to better the city for other families so no one else has to deal with what they have had to go through.

The nightmare unfolded around 6pm on January 31 when Matthew, Regan, and their three-year-old son approached the intersection of Pershing Drive and Manchester Avenue just two miles from their family home. An elderly man behind the wheel of a white Toyota Camry slammed into the pregnant mother and her toddler leaving both hospitalized immediately after impact. The driver who remains unidentified stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators but no charges have been filed against him following the fatal collision.

Regan died from her injuries shortly after the crash, yet doctors were able to deliver her baby girl named Ophelia. The newborn was treated in the NICU for several days before she succumbed to her own injuries. Matthew wrote in an emotional Facebook post two months after the accident that he saw his wife die right in front of him with their one-year-old son Theo nearby. He described the world as losing its unbelievable mom who was killed doing what she loved best, which is being a mother. She was nearly eight months pregnant and wildly excited to be a girl mom for the first time. Her last act was saving Dale while remaining heroic even with her last breath.

I'm wrecked every second of every day without her." Matthew told KTLA recently that he misses Regan constantly as he raises their two sons. He fights hard to provide them with needed support while wrestling through his own deep grief.

"They were addicted to their mother in the best way possible because she was always there for them," he explained. "She always wanted to play and be outside with them."

About 100 family members and community supporters gathered weeks after the tragedy for a memorial organized by Streets Are For Everyone, according to KTLA at the time. Regan's unborn child, Ophelia, spent several days in the NICU before succumbing to her injuries.

The head of that advocacy group stated clearly: "Regan and Ophelia's deaths were not an unavoidable accident, but a preventable tragedy." Two white ghost bikes now stand at the site, honoring both Regan and her daughter with roadside memorials common where cyclists have died.

A representative for Streets Are For Everyone echoed this sentiment in a statement back then: "Regan and Ophelia's deaths were not an unavoidable accident, but a preventable tragedy." Executive director Damian Kevitt added that traffic deaths had already surpassed homicides in Los Angeles for two years running. He called on the city to speed up safety measures and infrastructure improvements immediately.

Jonny Hale of People's Vision Zero said the memorial served as both a tribute and a demand for safer streets throughout Playa del Rey. A GoFundMe page launched by the family described Regan as "a loving and devoted wife, a fierce and joyful mother, a hilarious and loyal sister, and a beautiful, fiery daughter."

"We are absolutely overwhelmed at the outpouring of support for Regan and her family," a February update read. "The tragic killing of my sister and my niece is not something we will ever understand and it has left a hole in our hearts," it added. Their story touched many people across their community, yet the loss remains incomprehensible to some.

Matthew told KTLA: "I feel like she was the better parent of the two of us and now I have to try and somehow make up for the void that is so impossible to fill." As of August, nearly six months after launch, the family had raised $302,176, surpassing their $300,000 goal.

"My heart is forever broken," Matthew wrote in a Facebook post. "Regan was my sun. Her spirit lives on through Dale and Theo especially, but also through everyone who was lucky enough to be connected to her." The Daily Mail has contacted the Los Angeles Department of Transportation for comment. This disaster risks making families feel abandoned by a system that failed them so brutally.