By Megan Ma

John Peckham, 31, of Mountain View died Friday after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle on Old Page Mill Road in Palo Alto, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner.

The automobile driver, Chevelle Bailey, 41, of Fremont was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail and is being charged on four counts: driving under the influence, hit and run, vehicular manslaughter and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Witnesses at the scene, including other bicyclists and construction workers, estimated that Bailey was driving 80 mph along Old Page Mill Road, said California Highway Patrol Sgt. Alex Radich.

“It was a severe impact and it cut his bike into two or three pieces,” Radich said. At 12:17 p.m., Palo Alto police notified the Redwood City CHP office of the collision. Radich estimated that the collision took place at 12:05 p.m.

Peckham was transported to Stanford Hospital with severe injuries and pronounced dead shortly after, Radich said.

A member of the Alto Velo bicycling club, Peckham had just returned to bicycling after recovering from a crash earlier in the year, according to local news sources.

Brian Peterson, president of Alto Velo in Mountain View said the group is planning a memorial ride in Peckham’s honor. Peterson knew Peckham on both personal and competitive levels, he said.

“John was a great teammate. He had an easygoing manner and was enthusiastic about everything. He was soft-spoken but confident and could be anybody’s friend,” Peterson said, choking back tears.

Anyone with information regarding the collision is urged to call Officer Demarcus Lack at the Redwood City CHP Office, 369-6261.