Van strikes bicyclist in Oakdale

OAKDALE -- Investigators were looking for the driver of a van that struck a bicyclist in downtown Oakdale on Saturday morning and drove away before police arrived.

The hit-and-run accident occurred at 9:10 a.m. in the 400 block of East F Street, just east of South Yosemite Avenue. Oakdale police said the bicyclist was heading west along the side of the road, and the van was heading in the same direction.

The white van's passenger mirror hit the bicyclist. He was knocked off his bicycle, suffering injuries to his shoulder and arm. The bicyclist was taken by ambulance to Oak Valley Hospital in Oakdale.

Police said the van's driver failed to stop, but the passenger-side mirror broke off and was found at the scene. The vehicle that drove away was a GMC or Chevrolet van, possibly a 2002 to 2006 model.

Police did not know whether the driver continued west on East F Street or turned north on Highway 120.

Police ask anyone with information about the hit-and-run to call officer Joseph Parreira at (209) 847-2231.