This is exactly the kind of thing that makes people who have never ridden a bike hate the idea of bikes on the road. No one wants to hurt or kill anyone, but a lot of drivers feel like letting more bikes on the road means they might - and they imagine a situation like you describe. Then they have to face the fury of the cycling community wanting blood when it happens.

I obviously don't agree with drivers like that, but I think situations like this help us to understand where their fears come from and how we can better educate them.