Early accounts suggest the Acura driver was driving recklessly at the time of the crash.

Let that sit for a moment. 1:10 in the morning. A bridge. Reckless driving. A man who was simply on the road — maybe heading home to his family — is now gone.

Those who knew Siddiqui describe him as a genuinely good man. As one Bay Area resident put it, "He was incredibly kind and gregarious, a highly respected leader at work." By every account, this was someone who showed up for the people around him — his kids, his colleagues, his community.

We don't yet have all the details of the investigation, and we'll refrain from rushing to conclusions about the Acura driver's condition or intent. But here's what we do know: reckless driving on Bay Area roads and bridges continues to kill people, and enforcement remains woefully thin. The Hayward Bridge, like many of the region's corridors, sees its share of dangerous driving in the late-night hours when oversight is essentially nonexistent.

This isn't an abstract policy debate. It's a man who won't see his kids grow up.

If the reports of reckless driving prove accurate, accountability needs to follow — real accountability, not a slap on the wrist that gets plea-bargained into oblivion. And more broadly, the Bay Area's approach to traffic safety needs to reckon with the fact that dangerous driving isn't a victimless offense. Every time we shrug off enforcement as low-priority, we're making a bet with other people's lives.

Our thoughts are with the Siddiqui family. They deserved better. He deserved better.