COSTA MESA – A 32-year-old cyclist was struck and killed by oncoming traffic as he attempted to transition from the southbound 55 to northbound 405 in the freeway’s fast lane late Friday, the California Highway Patrol said.

Gilbert Gutierrez III, a resident of Lakewood, was identified by the coroner’s office as the victim.

An incident report released by the CHP says Gutierrez crossed lanes on the 55 while riding his Schwinn bicycle shortly before 11 p.m. and was struck by a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Investigators believe the car was traveling approximately 70 miles per hour, the report says.

Gutierrez was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

The incident was still under investigation Saturday morning. It was not immediately known if drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision. No citations or arrests were made and the driver of the Eclipse, a 24-year-old woman, was not injured.

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