A 21-year-old bicyclist was struck by a car early today on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain. He was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with life-threatening injures but is expected to survive, Boston Police said.

The motorist told police he never saw the cyclist. The motorist was taking a turn onto Lamartine Street just after midnight when he heard and felt something strike the passenger side of his car, he told police.

He got out of his car and saw the cyclist lying unconscious on the ground. The motorist is not facing any charges, police said.(via)

I have heard from a good friend of this person that he was indeed very injured, swollen brain, and other injuries (mostly mouth and cheek related, leading to a significant swallowing of blood) but that he is getting more lucid, and is having periods of wakefulness., and is improving. This person was riding with him at the time and from what I have heard made is seem like this was a classic right hook situation, but again I don’t have all the facts.

I have heard from many people and have experienced it myself, this intersection is horrible. I can only hope that if this was a right hook that the motorist is charged and that the cyclist sues. I don’t know if the cyclist was wearing a helmet, but it sounds like he might not have been, and while it also sounds like it was not the cyclists fault, if he had been wearing a helmet I am guessing this injury wouldn’t have been as bad. The part that really makes me mad is the whole “I didn’t see you” excuse. If you are going to be operating a vehicle it is your duty to see people. I don’t have all the details (like if the cyclist had lights on, etc), but I have been struck by cars before in broad daylight when I was clearly following the rules and people have said this to me. Keep your eyes and ears open (this goes for everyone) killing someone, or getting killed should not be a byproduct of going from point a to point b. We all need to take care of our fellow humans out on the road.

If I could give one piece of advice to people who drive cars, get in the habit of checking your right mirror, and looking over your right shoulder EVERY TIME you make a right turn. Training yourself to do this could potentially save a cyclists life, and you are legally required to do so anyway. Also if you are a cyclist, be aware that almost no one does this, so if you are on the right hand side of a car and it is approaching an intersection assume that it could turn right (even if the turn signal is not on, which it almost never is).

I hope he heals up fast, and I urge all of you (drivers and cyclists alike) to be courteous and careful out there.

edit: I just found out the rider was not wearing a helmet…while this in NO WAY make it the riders fault, it does illustrate why it is a very good idea to wear a helmet. This rider suffered brain injuries that in all likelihood would have been dramatically reduced had a helmet been on. Be safe out there people.