Crime & Safety

Updated: Driver Identified in Deadly Crash on Santa Margarita Parkway

Rancho Santa Margarita man is pronounced dead at the scene, near Trabuco Hills High School.

Editor's note: Story updated with additional information about the incident.

A bicyclist was killed Friday evening after being struck by a vehicle near Trabuco Hills High School.

Eric Billings of Rancho Santa Margarita died at the scene of the accident, according to the Orange County coroner, which listed his time of death as 6:48 p.m.—the same time the Orange County Sheriff's Department received a 9-1-1 call.

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Billings was 54.

According to Lt. Jim England of the OCSD, Billings was believed to be traveling alone southbound on Santa Margarita Parkway between El Toro Road and Los Alisos in Mission Viejo.

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He was struck about 300 yards south of El Toro Road by a southbound 2003 Acura driven by 39-year-old Hast Fakhrai-Bayrooti, according to Lt. Joe Balicki. The speed limit on that section of road, which includes an uphill grade until leveling off near the high school, is 50 mph. 

England said preliminary information indicated alcohol did not play a role in the accident. 

“This is an ongoing investigation,” Balicki said, adding that it was not immediately known if Fakhrai-Bayrooti was cited or arrested.

Billings was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and owned a small contracting company, according to The Orange County Register.

-City News Service contributed to this report


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