Police spoke with the operator of the involved motor vehicle, who explained he was driving eastbound on Mass. Ave. in the inside lane, when he was struck by the bicyclist on his driver’s side mirror.
He told police he stopped his vehicle and checked to make sure the bicyclist was OK. The driver said he was turning from Chandler Street onto Mass. Ave. when the bicyclist suddenly appeared. He said he was uninjured.
Speaking with the downed cyclist before she was transported, she said she was turning left from Cleveland Street onto Mass. Ave. and trying to get to the bike lane when she was struck. She explained she thought the intersection was clear enough for her to make it across the three lanes of traffic to get into the bike lane; however, she stated, she did not see the motor vehicle until it was too late.
At this point, a pedestrian said she had seen the collision. She said the bicyclist was turning from Cleveland when the vehicles “met in the middle” of Mass. Ave.
As police were clearing the scene, the other bicyclist who had been assisting said he had video of the collision. Police viewed the video, and reported that even though the collision is about one block away from the camera, the cyclist is seen turning left from Mass. Ave., attempting to cross three lanes of traffic. At the same time, police said, the video shows the driver turning right onto Mass. Ave. and traveling in the inner eastbound lane.
The video shows the collision with the driver’s-side mirror and the cyclist falling to the ground. “It does appear neither of them noticed each other on the roadway,” the police report says.
The report says: “No offenders.”
This was the second bicycle-car collision in East Arlington in a week. Police are seeking a criminal complaint of operating to endanger after a car and a bicyclist collided on Mass. Ave. near Orvis Road, injuring the cyclist, on Oct. 16.
This news summary was published Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019.
