ANTELOPE VALLEY – A 47-year-old woman riding a bicycle was killed Saturday night after she was hit by a car near the Devil’s Punchbowl area, authorities said.
The fatal collision occurred around 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11 on Longview Road, just north of Le Page Ranch Road.
Karla A. Thiel was southbound on Longview Road in the southbound lane, approximately two feet from the white line, when she was struck, according to a California Highway Patrol report.
“Her bicycle did not have any reflective gear on it nor a headlight, and she wasn’t wearing a helmet,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Jordan Richards. “She wasn’t wearing reflective clothes; she was dressed all in dark clothing.”
Paul S. Biddle, 65, of Littlerock, was driving a 1994 Toyota Camry southbound on Longview Road and was traveling at approximately 45 miles per hour when he struck Thiel, the CHP report states.
“Due to the extreme darkness in the area, the lack of any lighting device or reflectors used by Thiel and her dark clothing, Biddle never saw Thiel in the lane until the collision occurred,” the CHP report states. “Thiel was thrown onto the hood and windshield of the vehicle before being ejected onto the roadway.”
Thiel sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel. Thiel is a local transient of Littlerock and does not have any known family members, according to the CHP report.
Biddle remained at the scene to answer questions and was not injured in the collision.
Alcohol was not a factor in this traffic collision, the CHP report states.
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kevin says
A close friend of Karla’s stopped by today and asked me to put the following poetic letter that she had written to him shortly before her death, sharing the depth of her heart and proof that she was in possession of her mental faculties. Thank you Cassey for allowing us all to know her better.
“Love is, the freedom to pursue your own desires while sharing your experiences with the other person the growth of one individual, alongside of and together with the growth of another. Love is the source of success.”
“Love is, the excitement of planning things together, the excitement of doing things together. Love is the source of the future.”
“Love is, the fury of the storm, the calm of the rainbow. Love is the source of passion.”
“Love is, giving and taking in a daily situation, being patient with each others needs and desires. Love is the source of sharing.”
“Love is, being happy with the other person when they are happy, being sad when they are sad, being together in good times. Love is the source of strength.”
“Love is, being honest with yourself at all times, being honest with the other person at all times, telling, listening, respecting the truth and never pretending. Love is the source of reality.”
“Love is, an understanding that is so complete that you feel as if you are a part of the other person accepting the other person just the way they are. And not trying to change them to be something else. Love is the source of unity.”
“Love is, knowing the other person will always be with you regardless of what happens. Missing the other person when they are away. But remaining near in heart at all times. Love is the source of security.”
“Love is, the source of life.”
(copied exactly as written, Kjk 10-24-2014)
I am with you..... says
Hey everybody,
I hope this doesn’t reach you too late.
I don’t want you to worry,
Because life up here is great.
I can’t wait for you to see the beauty of heaven,
But I know it’s not your time.
I really miss you guys,
But I know you’ll be just fine.
You know I can see you right,
So please stop shedding tears.
You guys, I’m perfectly fine,
So conquer all your fears.
Hey guys I know you miss me.
It’s really hard not to.
But please, please stop grieving,
Because you’re making me sad too.
You guys have been a great family,
And I am truly blessed.
You’ve raised me through my earthly life,
Now God will do the rest.
He’s really a great person,
And an even better friend,
So I’m in great hands,
And on Him you can also depend.
Oh boy, I’m getting carried away.
I want to say so many things,
But I really have to go now,
Because today I’m getting my wings.
Bye you guys, I’ll love you forever and a day!
William Daniel Dick says
My name is Daniel dick. I reside in Science Hill, Kentucky. Karla Thiel was my aunt. One of which I have only seen a couple of times in my life. She was an incredibly bright woman. Not only from what little I know, but also from the kind words some people has spoken. I wanted to say thank you to those community members who done what they could to help. I knew very little of her life in California, however, wish I had known much more.
AND TO MIRANDA: IF YOU READ THIS, PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CALL. YOU HAVE FAMILY! 606-492-9840
Rhonda J Dick says
Karla was my sister. She had two older sisters me Rhonda J Dick I’m 53 years old and lives in Science Hill, Kentucky. Her other sister Audrey King lives in Oklahoma she is 55 years old. We both have not seen her for a very very long time. Me and Audrey did not know where in the L.A. area she lived at. She has a mother Dian McIntosh and dad Arthur McIntosh that lives in Alamogordo, NM, who loved her very very much. She has a grandma who lives in Lancaster, California who is 94 years old. She has a daughter Miranda Thiel but I do not know were she lives at in California. I don’t think she really kept in touch with any of her family very much. She liked to be on her own i guess. I’m very sad this is the way her family had to find out about her. And it is breaking my heart to find out this is the way she had been living in. But again i know our mother and dad had helped her out a lot of times. But she always went back to California were i guess she felt more at home with. I know all of us her family will miss her very very much. She is resting in God’s hands now,I love you Karla and miss you. Rhonda J Dick
LJ in so cal says
I have also seen this woman. I and several co-workers have seen her or helped her out. If anyone has any idea where her child(ren) are please try to contact them. My friend told me her camper is full of smelly trash much like a hoarder. No one will ever find out her family information so any children may never know she passed unless they come to town and happen upon someone who knew of Karla. It was my understanding that she got dizzy or confused when actually riding the bike, so she would walk it where ever she would go. This is a very sad way for someone to pass. Pearblossom and Juniper Hills are nice places to live. We need to continue to care about each other and help each other when we are able. Many people would “pay it forward” if need be.
chantal says
I have only lived in the area for a short time & saw this poor soul almost every day on my way to & from work. I waved to her every time & prayed for her daily. I knew local people tried to helped her in any way they could. I & a friend offered her water one day & she said “thank you” & “have a nice day”. It broke my heart. What a tragedy. I know she is absent from the body of great pain & suffering & present with the Lord now & reunited with her mate who it sounds she loved so much! That brings tears of joy to my eyes. She is truly free now!!
kevin says
I knew Doug and Karla since 2001 when they lived and worked at the swapmeet. He was a gentle and caring man and She was a intelligent and passionate woman. I remember when she chose to go down the dark side of life into mental illness. She came to my residence with books of poetry and metaphysical studies that she owned, that we shared like interest in. “I have to go somewhere. I want you to have these, I know they’ll be safe with you”, She said. I’ve been holding onto them ever since. That was around 2004 I think. Right after that She went where Nobody should go and the rest of her life was miserable. At least now, Her Rest may be in Peace.
Daniel says
Rest in peace Karla. I hope you finally find your husband.
Lori says
SO SAD! She was a nice woman who I had the pleasure of knowing briefly. I’m glad she is not suffering. And yes, the community did do what they could for her. Bless all of you! Sorry for your loss, her uniqueness will be missed.
becky says
Its going to be sad not seeing her walking around anymore, I always wished she would get help, and if I didn’t know about this I would think she might have got it, but know that I know the reason, its going to be sad
sandy f. says
last nite I posted a comment, guess my words were too harsh..never appeared on this site..Shame on all of our govt. people who said they tried to help, THEY ALL FAILED>>I will not give names because they have probably all moved on….all of us up here tried to help in our own way, water, food, clothes, driving her places, ( because she didn”t wash , lack of water, she smelled sooo bad.) Yet we all tried, to the man who hit her, IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT I use to dream that I would be the one to hit her, we all drove slowly yet it happened..I have a feeling the only way a problem gets solved is when a member of our govt. is effected !!!! Are you going to print this ???? sandy
Jean says
Unfortunate that this tragedy had to take place, all of us who live in the area of Pearblossom knew it was just a matter of time before this would happen. Several of us have called the sheriffs dept. and talked about this matter of Karla standing in the middle of the road in the dark or walking out from behind bushes into the road. I know people who have tried to give her light colored clothing, lights for her bike(which she never rides, she just walked with it). She didn’t want the help, she had mental issues and needed help. The sheriff said to me “we can’t send adult social services out unless she has an address”. Well she lived in the bushes I was told by someone who talked to her regularly, she had a camper but it was filled with trash. So there lies the problem, if you’re homeless without an address and don’t have the mental capacity to get help, you’re screwed! All of you people who think someone should’ve helped her, well the people of the community did what Karla would allow them to do. They brought her food and water on a daily basis and dropped off clothing to her. She would still wear the same old dark clothing. I feel so sorry for the gentleman that hit her, he will have to suffer from this the rest of his life and it wasn’t his fault. Something is very wrong with this state if we can have so many on welfare driving nice cars and using their debit cards to buy alcohol, cigarettes and get their tattoos, but we can’t have something in place to take care of these types of people with mental problems. very sad
BELLA says
Yours is the one statement here of all of them that best describes the unfortunate accident. Yes it was inevitable it was a matter of time and who and when. The man will indeed be haunted by this but Karla can now rest in peace, A lot of people have offered to help her myself among one of them but she never wanted anything but to use the phone to tr to call her husband!!1R.I.P.
Armen Bazigian says
Sad this person died. Avoidable. But this is a just one statistic in the thousands of deaths on the road ways in the USA and the world. No reason to call for legislation to ban cars or lock up the homeless…like some suggest.
KG Rairden says
This tragedy could have been prevented. Karla has been walking on Longview Road, day and night, for over 2 years. Since the law requires her to declare that she is a danger to herself or someone else, there was no way to compel her to get help. Many of the residents here have reported the problem of her walking in the dark, on the pavement while pushing her bike, over and over again.
The time has come for there to be legislation to protect incompetent people from themselves and from victimizing others. The State has a responsibility to protect those who plainly cannot take care of themselves. Our legislators need to take action to see that tragedies like this do not occur again!
Armen Bazigian says
That’s how communism starts.
AVer says
Exactly! She has the right to be incompetent, and act strange if she wants to, as long as she isn’t a danger to herself or others.
I wonder what kind of legislation KG would want… arrest anyone who’s a little strange? Who defines strange?
ThatOneChick says
Perhaps free reflectors for her bike or a helmet could have been donated. So many people complained of the danger, yet no one thought to provide her with simple bike reflectors?
We are in positions to help those in need, not point fingers, blame and back them in a corner.
m. west says
Karla was given reflectors and helmets, tire, wheels, food, water and light color clothes. Everyone up on Pearblossom side of Juniper hills help her out daily. So it was not the community around here that didn’t help the needy.
April says
Yes sally that’s the lady I too have given her rides and she would talk about waiting for her husband. Sadly her husband was her sole care taker and she had mental issues. One day he went to the grocery store and never returned for her. The real story is that he went to the store and on his way back was Involved in a fatal car accident. She waited for him for some time then she just started looking for him with out knowing he had passed away. So now she has found her husband in heaven. So sad though.
Sally says
What a shame. I believe I know the girl, she walks along longview all the time. She looks homeless. I’ve given her a few rides here and there, whenever I could just help out. Very sweet lady. Didn’t seem like she had family left out here, and she always talked about waiting for her husband to come get her. Come back from Washington and come get her. She hadn’t heard from him in years, sadly. May she rest in peace.
Residentofpblossom says
Yes, Sally, I believe it was that woman. Those who live in the Pearblossom/JuniperHills area have seen her for a couple of years and offered assistance in a variety of ways. This tragedy is exemplary of why LA County needs to provide more funding for the homeless in the AV. We have a disproportionate amount of funds compared to the population of the homeles here. Many of the homeless are from LA and come here. This LA Times article states we have 12% of the population but only 2% of the funding: http://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/19/local/la-me-ln-lancaster-homeless-20140219
Anna says
Another tragedy that could have been avoided. I see people all the time riding and walking in dark clothes after the sun has gone down and it’s hard to see them. But, the one that really gets me is the horse riders that think it’s ok to ride 3 or 4 abreast in total darkness going down the street. If not for my rather perfect vision, I would never see them until I was upon them. No, I don’t know what it is I see, just movement and then suddenly there they are! People need to be more responsible for their safety.