Novato bicyclist fatally struck by vehicle

The California Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that killed a 75-year-old bicyclist in Novato.

The bicyclist was Daniel Irvin Fred, the Marin County coroner’s office said Tuesday. He was a Novato resident.

Fred was riding south on San Antonio Road near the Sonoma County line on Friday afternoon when a southbound Toyota Highlander struck him, according to the CHP. Fred was pronounced dead at the site.

The driver of the Toyota, a 31-year-old Petaluma man, remained there and cooperated with police, the CHP said. The driver was not injured. Police do not suspect him of intoxication and did not arrest him.

The coroner’s office has determined the death to be accidental, and the cause to be blunt trauma, Chief Deputy Coroner Roger Fielding said Tuesday.

Fred was a real estate developer and consultant who founded DFA Development LLC. The company specializes in affordable housing projects, and Fred worked with many housing authorities in the state, said Chris Flaherty, a business partner.

“He was just a kind, wonderful person. He really loved what he did,” said Flaherty, who lives in Honolulu. “He just loved helping others in the industry.”

“It’s devastating what happened,” Flaherty said. “He was just an extraordinary human being. He was always present, always paid attention.”

Fred’s daughter, Elianna Fred of Chicago, said he was “the best human, just the best.”

“He could talk to a brick wall and make it tap dance,” she said.

According to a company biography, Fred received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Harvard University. Before starting his company, he was a planning official in Galveston, Texas, and Palo Alto.

Fred grew up in Texas, according to family members. In addition to his daughter, his survivors include his son Ben Fred of Bellingham, Washington; a brother, Morris Fred of Chicago; a sister, Gail Fred of Corte Madera; his partner Linda Cohn of Novato; and a large extended family.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at Congregation Kol Shofar in Tiburon.