Playa del Rey, California (January 31, 2026) — A family bike ride along the coast ended in tragedy Saturday evening when Regan Cole-Graham, a 36-year-old mother who was seven months pregnant, was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding an electric bicycle with her husband and two young children in Playa del Rey, according to the Los Angeles Police Department and NBC Los Angeles. Cole-Graham’s unborn daughter was delivered by doctors after the crash, but later died, family members confirmed.
Incident Details: The collision occurred around 6 p.m. Saturday in the seaside neighborhood of Playa del Rey. Police said Cole-Graham was riding an electric bike in the same direction of travel as traffic, alongside her husband, Matt Graham, and their two children. For reasons still under investigation, a sedan traveling in the same direction struck Cole-Graham.
She was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Doctors performed an emergency delivery of her unborn baby girl, who was transported to the neonatal intensive care unit at UCLA Children’s Hospital. Despite medical efforts, both Cole-Graham and her infant daughter later died, according to a GoFundMe established to support the family.
Authorities said the driver of the sedan, described as an elderly man, remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police indicated that drugs and alcohol are not believed to have been factors in the crash.
Family members and friends described Cole-Graham as a devoted wife and mother, remembered for her warmth, humor, and fierce love for her family. She leaves behind her husband and two young sons.
Investigation: The Los Angeles Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. In crashes involving bicycles and vehicles traveling in the same direction, investigators typically focus on visibility, lane positioning, speed, and whether the driver had adequate opportunity to perceive and react to the cyclist ahead.
Authorities will likely review physical evidence, such as debris, impact points, and vehicle damage, to determine the collision’s location and cause. They may also check if the cyclist was in a designated lane and if markings and lighting provided proper separation. Since a family was involved, they might also assess traffic, congestion, sun angle, and visibility issues. Even if impairment is dismissed, distraction or misjudgment can still cause same-direction collisions.
The ongoing investigation will review dashcam footage, security camera footage, witness accounts, and sedan data to reconstruct the crash and determine whether evasive action was taken and whether the collision was avoidable. No charges or citations have been announced.
Legal Considerations: Fatal bicycle collisions raise complex legal questions, particularly when they involve vulnerable road users like cyclists and children. Under California law, drivers owe a duty of care to operate their vehicles safely and remain alert for cyclists lawfully using the roadway. Even without impairment, a failure to maintain a proper lookout or adjust driving behavior can result in civil liability.
In bicycle-versus-vehicle cases, determining liability often requires a careful examination of roadway design, traffic flow, and whether adequate safety measures were in place to protect cyclists.
From a civil standpoint, the deaths of Regan Cole-Graham and her unborn daughter may give rise to wrongful death claims, which can address funeral expenses, medical costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship suffered by surviving family members. These claims exist separately from any criminal investigation and focus on accountability and the real-world impact of the loss.
I offer my heartfelt condolences to Matt Graham, his sons, and the entire family mourning the loss of Regan and her baby girl.
Source: NBC Los Angeles