Iraq veteran killed in hit and run

Tragic story:

SAN DIEGO – The bicyclist killed in a hit-and-run accident Tuesday morning has been identified as Patrick Michael Klokow from Santa Clara, an Iraq war veteran.

The 29-year-old Marine captain was stationed at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot as the commanding officer of the instructional training company, according to Janice Hagar, a base spokeswoman.

Klokow, an artillery officer with the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, served in Kuwait from January 2003 to March 2003 and was then deployed in Iraq until July 2003, Hagar said.

Klokow graduated from the Naval Academy in 1999 and has been stationed at the recruit depot since September 2003.

Klokow is survived by his wife who is an active duty Marine currently deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. She is based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.

He was hit and killed early Tuesday morning while he was riding his bike on Kearny Villa Road near the southbound state Route 163 on-ramp. The driver did not stop. Klowkow was then hit by at least one other vehicle, whose driver did stop.

A Mira Mesa man has pleaded not guilty in the death of Captain Klokow:

SAN DIEGO – A Mira Mesa man pleaded not guilty Monday to manslaughter and hit-and-run-causing-death charges in connection with a crash that claimed the life of a 29-year-old Marine officer bicycling to work.

San Diego police said Jose Luis Cifuentes, 58, confessed Thursday afternoon to driving the vehicle that struck USMC Capt. Patrick Klokow in the 7300 block of Kearny Villa Road Tuesday morning.

I hope Cifuentes is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

(Hat tip: Wizbang)

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