Cyclist Killed On O’Brien Highway

Not much information yet, more when I get it.

CORRECTION: Victim who was struck by a pickup truck this AM on O'Brien Hwy in #Boston was a bicyclist, not a pedestrian. That victim, an adult male, has since been pronounced deceased. Lane restrictions remain in place on O'Brien Hwy for investigation. https://t.co/IgHG6h9SDg

— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) November 9, 2018

Slightly more info here

The cyclist has been identified. 

A ripple of rage went through the bike community Friday when it was learned a 24-year-old cyclist and Cambridge resident was struck and killed by a dump truck at Museum Way and Monsignor O’Brien Highway, near the Museum of Science.

The truck was reportedly trying to make a turn onto Museum Way shortly before 8:15 a.m., with the cyclist on the right waiting to make the same turn. “When both the truck and bicyclist began to make their right turn, the bicyclist was struck by a tire of the truck,” according to state police.

The bicyclist was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from injuries from the incident, police said. The crash is under investigation and police are withholding the name of the victim until next of kin is notified. Boston student media identified the victim as Meng Jin, of Shanghai, who expected a graduate degree in economics next year.

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Cops Refuse To Charge Truck Driver With ANYTHING Even As Video Shows The Truck Driver Is Clearly At Fault

Its clear from these videos that the truck driver had plenty of time to notice there was a vehicle (a bicycle) in the lane next to them, the truck overtakes the cyclists, and then continues to turn into them, then flees the scene…shit.  What do you have to do to get charged with something in this town?

Warning these videos are hard to watch.

Very good work from Massbike here, more here.

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Driver Found Who Murdered Rick Archer, Ghost Bike Ceremony And Protest Tonight!

Rick Archer

From the globe:

The man allegedly responsible for a hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a bicyclist in Back Bay last month is due to appear in Boston Municipal Court Wednesday to face at least one criminal charge.

Bicyclist Rick Archer, 29, was riding his bicycle near Commonwealth Avenue and Clarendon Street at 3:19 a.m. on April 30 when he was hit by a car whose driver then sped away. Archer died two days later in an area hospital.

From the BPD:

UPDATE: BPD Investigators Apprehend Suspect Wanted in Connection to Fatal Hit-and-Run Incident in the Back Bay: Eight days after a cyclist was struck and killed riding his bike in the area of Commonwealth Ave and Clarendon Street, BPD Homicide Detectives have arrested the individual responsible for the accident. After an extensive and comprehensive investigation, officers arrested Malone Kidanemariam, 25, Boston and charged him with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Death. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court Court on Wednesday, May 10, 2017.

Said Commissioner William Evans, “I want to commend my investigators for all of their hard work and long hours in making this arrest. I also want to thank all the community members who provided help and made calls to our anonymous tip line. When a motorist strikes a pedestrian or cyclist in the City of Boston, the individual behind the wheel is expected to stop, check on the welfare of the person struck and call 9-1-1 for help. For whatever reason, the suspect in this case chose not to do that, and, given the charges he’s now facing, I would imagine he most certainly wishes he had.”

The facts and circumstances surrounding the original incident are as follows: At about 3:19 AM, on Sunday, April 30, 2017, officers assigned to District D-4 (South End) responded to a radio call for a cyclist struck in the area of Commonwealth Avenue and Clarendon Street. On arrival, officers located a male victim, approximately 30-years-old, suffering from what appeared to be life threatening injuries. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

The Boston Police Department continues to actively review the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident.  Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact detectives at (617) 343-4470.

Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).  The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help this investigation in an anonymous manner.

There is a ghost bike going to be installed for Rick tonight.

A Ghost Bike Memorial ceremony will be held for Rick Archer, the cyclist who was killed in a hit and run crash this past weekend. Rick was an activist, both for bike advocacy and humanitarian relief efforts. While he was a talented cyclist, he along with so many other riders have expressed the need for a safer riding environment in the city of Boston.

This event is not only to honor the memory of Rick Archer, but to ride in his name and make a statement. We want to raise awareness and make the drivers of the city as well as city officials know, that cyclists are human beings, and their lives MATTER.

Reverend Laura Everett will be leading a beautiful ghost bike ceremony for Rick, where some of his closest friends will speak about the wonderful individual that he was.

Following the ceremony, we are calling on all cyclists to come out and Ride for Ricky. We will ride from his ghost bike ceremony site to City Hall, and actively disrupt a budget meeting being held by the Transportation Commissioner.

What we want – MORE FUNDING! During the disruption of this meeting we will ask for more funding for projects like vision zero, slower streets, and bike infrastructure:

http://www.visionzeroboston.org/
http://bostoncyclistsunion.org/advocacy-campaigns/bikebudget/

Did you know the city of Boston only spends $5 per person for cyclist safety while cities like San Francisco spend $75 per person! Yea I think it’s time we balanced the scales.

Tragedies like this can be avoided, and if you are a cyclist and are able, please come out and show your support. This will be televised and we will get the city to listen.

If you cannot be there and you feel inclined to help, you can donate to:
https://www.gofundme.com/rick-archers-memorial-services-fund

We hope to see you there. Thanks!

More from the Globe.

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Cyclist Murdered In Hit And Run, Police Still Looking For The Murderer

Rick Archer was hit around 3:30 a.m on April 30th in the Backbay, he has since died from his injuries.  The driver fled the scene.

They think they might have found the car, but are still looking for the driver.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (617)343-4470.  Or go here for more contact details.

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8 Year Old Child Killed While Riding Bicycle

Yadielys Deleon Camacho, 8, was killed after she was struck by a car.

Two young cousins were struck by a car Saturday night during a birthday celebration for their grandmother in Mattapan, leaving an 8-year-old girl dead, a 12-year-old boy injured, and a close-knit family heartbroken.

Yadielys Deleon Camacho, described as a “sweetheart,” was a second-grader at Up Academy in Dorchester, according to her family.

At the time of the crash, witnesses said, she was riding her bicycle with Joseph Eduardo Cordova, her cousin, near the 100 block of West Selden Street.

A mangled bicycle was found at the scene, according to police.

Police arrested the alleged driver of the vehicle, James Horton, 45, of Dorchester, and charged him with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident and motor vehicle homicide, said Officer Rachel McGuire, a Boston police spokeswoman. (via)

This is the second young person in as many weeks that has been killed by a hit and run driver.  In the 70’s in northern Europe the killing of children by cars sparked a movement that fundamentally changed the way people used automobiles.  Called the “stop murdering children” campaign, it changed forever the way the Dutch thought about how streets should be designed, and how cars should be part of society.  We must do the same.

There is no acceptable level of human death in service to automobile traffic.  We can not accept one single fatality because people want to drive cars around.  The death of this lovely young girl is a tragedy that no one should have to abide.  My deepest sympathies go out to her family.

Residents of West Selden Street say they have frequently complained about the speed of traffic on their two-way street.

Millien refuses to let his two children ride their bikes on the street. He said he limits them to riding in the backyard.

“People don’t slow down,” he said, calling for the city to install a speed bump. “There’s always a big accident.”

Millien, who has lived on the street for 13 years, said the tragedy may be the final straw for him and his family, as the frequency of car accidents has made him ready to move.

“There’s no problem with the neighbors or crime; the problem is speeding,” he said. (via)

It’s time we change our entire concept of how we allow cars into our society.  No more deaths.

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