Who Was Regan Cole-Graham? Pregnant Google Executive Killed While Cycling in Los Angeles as Family Plans to File Lawsuit Against City

The family of the pregnant Google executive who was killed while cycling is holding the city of Los Angeles responsible for her death, arguing that the lack of bike lanes played a role in the tragedy. In February, tragedy struck a family cycling through Playa del Rey when an elderly motorist collided with seven-month-pregnant Regan Cole-Graham and her young son.

Cole-Graham, a 36-year-old Google executive, died from injuries sustained in the crash. Her daughter, Ophelia, was born prematurely but died soon afterward. Her toddler son escaped with minor injuries. Her husband, Matt Graham, was cycling nearby with their other child when the crash occurred. However, neither of them was hurt.

Happy Family Ruined

The family’s attorney is accusing the city of putting cyclists at risk by removing bike lanes along Pershing Drive. Cole-Graham and her son were hit at the intersection of Pershing Drive and Manchester Avenue.

“We believe that the removal of that protection and safe space was a critical factor,” family attorney Brian Breiter told KTLA.

The crash happened roughly two miles from the family’s home. The driver involved has not been charged with a crime.

Breiter said the family plans to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, arguing that the removal of the bike lanes contributed to Cole-Graham’s death.

A GoFundMe campaign set up to support the family has raised more than $302,000. Still, the financial support cannot ease the loss of Cole-Graham or fill the place she left behind. Matt previously told The New York Post that his wife was an “amazing wife” and “the world’s best mother.”

“I feel like she was the better parent of the two of us and now I have to try and somehow make up for the void that is so impossible to fill,” Matt told KTLA. “They were addicted to their mother in the best way possible because she was always there for them, always wanted to play and be outside with them.”

A Successful Career

Cole-Graham had been working for Google in Los Angeles since 2019. During her time there, she held roles including Consumer Marketing Lead and Brand Partnerships Lead. She helped secure a multimillion-dollar partnership with Live Nation, along with several other major deals.

She was also a mother to Ophelia and two sons.

Matt hopes bringing attention to what happened will encourage the city to introduce stronger safety measures.

“Whatever it takes to better the city for other families, because I don’t want any other family to ever have to deal with what we have had to deal with,” he said.

In an Instagram post, Matt explained that he chose to speak publicly about the tragedy because he wanted people to “remember how amazing she was in every way, and how ridiculously excited she was to be a ‘girl mom’ for the first time nearly 8-months pregnant with Ophelia.”