Advocacy & Safety - Cyclist struck and killed by garbage truck in DC

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littlewaywelt
07-08-08, 12:15 PM
Cyclist struck and killed by garbage truck in DC
http://www.washingtonpost.com/l (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/08/AR2008070800975.html)

By Debbi Wilgoren and Allison Klein
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, July 8, 2008; 1:36 PM

A 22-year-old bicyclist was struck by a garbage truck and killed just north of Dupont Circle today, authorities said. Police and fire vehicles converged on the scene at 20th and R streets NW, snarling Connecticut Avenue traffic during the morning rush.
This Story

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D.C. Police this afternoon identified the cyclist as District resident Alice Swanson, although no other details about her were released.

Swanson was struck at 7:37 a.m., D.C. police spokesman Kenny Bryson said. An officer in the uniformed division of the Secret Service was nearby and pulled her from under the truck to administer CPR, said Alan Etter, a spokesman for the D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
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She could not be revived.

"The truck just ran completely over her," Etter said.

The truck was owned by KMG Hauling Inc., a Sterling-based company. In a telephone interview, KMG Hauling owner Hugo Garcia said his company is investigating details of the accident.

"We're looking at everything, trying to figure out what happened," Garcia said. "It looks like an unfortunate accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased."

He would not say how long the driver of the truck had been employed by KMG, or whether his company was working for the city or a private residence or business.

On its Web site, KMG is described as "the leading provider of waste and environmental management services" to the D.C. metropolitan area. The company has been in existence for nearly 30 years, the Web site says, with "a variety of commercial and residential accounts including restaurants, hotels, office and apartment buildings, retail stores, government buildings, construction companies and housing communities."

This is the first fatal bike crash of 2008. Last year there were two bikers killed on city streets, police said.

There have been 20 traffic fatalities this year in the District, compared with 27 at this time last year.

Some two hours after the accident, the mangled bicycle was still visible under the truck's right front tire. A helmet and a backpack could be seen on the street a few feet away. Parts of Connecticut Avenue were closed for more than two hours, along with portions of 20th and R streets just east of Connecticut.


littlewaywelt
07-08-08, 12:16 PM
condolences to her family...

maddyfish
07-08-08, 12:17 PM
Wow that is terrible. If DC follows their normal course, then garbage trucks will be banned.


cudak888
07-08-08, 12:32 PM
"It looks like an unfortunate accident."

As opposed to a fortunate accident?


On its Web site, KMG is described as...

Do journalists have anything better to do then put to text every quote they can lay their hands on, whether nonsensical or otherwise?

Reminds me of poor students padding their college English papers with too many generic quotes.

-Kurt

jomalley
07-08-08, 02:34 PM
My aunt lives a few streets away. From the way she relayed the TV news to me, she makes it sound like it was a right-hook situation.

mjw
07-08-08, 02:37 PM
Two ongoing threads on Dcist:
http://dcist.com/2008/07/08/killed_cyclist_identified.php
http://dcist.com/2008/07/08/woman_killed_by_garbage_truck_in_du.php

seeker333
07-08-08, 03:28 PM
http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0708/534131.html

bingham333
07-08-08, 04:52 PM
and that is one reason why riding on the sidewalk is NOT safer.

poor girl i feel for her and her family.

mjw
07-08-08, 10:03 PM
The latest article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/08/AR2008070800975.html?hpid=moreheadlines) suggests she was in the bike lane- hmm

donnamb
07-09-08, 12:04 AM
They could put bashguards on the trucks (http://bikeportland.org/2008/06/30/trucks-now-rolling-with-side-underrun-guards/). They help pedestrians survive, too.