Tractor Trailer Bicyclist Accident
“[I]t’s not uncommon for drivers of large trucks to be involved in a collision and not realize it,” stated a police officer in a recent article regarding an 18-wheeler that struck a bicyclist and never knew he had killed her. From the MercuryNews.com:
The driver of the tractor-trailer truck that ran over a woman as she rode her bicycle Wednesday morning in Redwood Shores told investigators that he drove away from the scene because he didn’t realize he struck her, police said.
The collision at about 7:50 a.m. killed the cyclist, identified by the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office as Mary Yonkers, a 58-year-old San Mateo resident.
Investigators are still piecing together what happened, but at this point are treating the incident as an accident, Redwood City police Sgt. Eric Stasiak said. The 30-year-old driver, Scott Mancuso of Stockton, was not arrested.
Police say the collision occurred as the truck, operated by Lodi-based trucking company Tiger Lines, was making a right turn onto Holly Street from southbound Shoreway Road, a route known to have heavy truck traffic coming from a nearby trash and recycling center.
The single-trailer truck was waiting at a red light at the intersection when Yonkers rode down Shoreway on her bicycle and tried to squeeze between the truck’s right side and the curb, Stasiak said. There is no bicycle lane on Shoreway.
This is a tragic accident which illustrates how a trucker’s vantage point can sometimes cause them to be even more dangerous. Truck driver and trucking safety should be stressed by management, companies, and all those involved in the trucking industry.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, truck-related highway fatalities totaled 4,229 in 2008. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of an 18-wheeler accident, big rig accident or tractor-trailer accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all claimants are protected.
