A Santa Monica man who struck and killed an Australian man who was riding a hired bicycle on Sunday in the Pacific Palisades has been scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles court next month.
According to reports, James Rapley, 29, from Melbourne, Victoria was riding a bicycle when he was hit from behind by a vehicle that had drifted into the bike lane at about 9:15 am.
The fatal accident occurred on eastbound Temescal Canyon Road near Pacific Coast Highway when he was struck by a 19-year-old man driving 1980 Mercedes, later identified as Mohammed Kadri, of Santa Monica. Kadri remained at the scene following the accident.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Kadri was arrested at 10:50 am Sunday and booked on a felony level charge later that day at 3:18 pm. Kadri was released on $50,000 bail at 9:25 pm Sunday.
Kadri is scheduled to appear in the downtown Los Angeles County Municipal Court on Jan. 16, 2014.
According to Australian newspaper The Age, Rapley had been working in Chicago as a software developer.
The Age reports Rapley had flown from Chicago to Los Angeles a day before his flight home for Christmas because he was nervous that bad weather would delay his plans. He hired a bike for a day when he was struck in the Pacific Palisades.
