Driver mows down biking doctor before stabbing him to death on PCH: cops
A California driver mowed down a doctor taking an afternoon bike ride — before getting out of his Lexus and stabbing him to death, law enforcement officials said.
Michael Mammone, 58, was riding in the bike lane on the Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point around 3 p.m. Wednesday when a driver slammed into him from behind, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.
The crash “launched” Mammone into the Crown Valley Parkway intersection, Sgt. Mike Woodruff told KCAL.
![Michael Mammone](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/cyclist-2.jpg?w=1024)
![Mammone, 58, was riding in the bike lane on the Pacific Coast Highway when a driver allegedly slammed into him from behind.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/california-biking-doctor-mowed-down-stabbed-15.jpg?w=1024)
Vanroy Evan Smith, 39, got out of his white Lexus brandishing a knife and began assaulting Mammone, an emergency room doctor at Providence Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach, police said.
Witnesses said Smith was also holding a BB gun as he approached the injured Mammone before he began stabbing him.
By the time law enforcement arrived, bystanders had leaped into action and detained Smith. He was booked on suspicion of murder.
![Police at the scene where a man was run over and stabbed to death.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/california-biking-doctor-mowed-down-stabbed-16.jpg?w=1024)
The knife he allegedly wielded was found at the scene.
Mammone, who was lying on the highway suffering from “severe injuries,” was taken to the hospital, where he died.
![Intersection of Crown Valley Parkway and the Pacific Coast Highway.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/cyclist-1.jpg?w=1024)
![A picture of the bike that a man was on before being run over and stabbed to death.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/california-biking-doctor-mowed-down-stabbed-02.jpg?w=1024)
Police said the men did not appear to know each other.
“As of right now we currently don’t truly understand the why … as far as motivation and any type of relationship,” Woodruff told KTLA.
“Investigators are keeping all options open to check those boxes, if you will, to make sure they don’t leave anything uncovered.”