A bicyclist was killed Friday after being hit by a truck at Hampshire and Portland streets in The Port neighborhood near Kendall Square in Cambridge, police said. (Update on June 24, 2024: The victim has been identified as MIT doctoral student Minh-Thi Nguyen.)
The crash came just before 8:20 a.m., with Cambridge fire and police responding. The bicyclist, a 24-year-old Cambridge woman, was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where she later died. She was pronounced dead shortly before noon.
This is the second death of a bicyclist in Cambridge this month. A 55-year-old Florida woman on a Bluebike rental died after being hit by a truck at around 4:30 p.m. June 7 at Mount Auburn and DeWolfe streets, south of Harvard Square in the Riverside neighborhood.
A preliminary investigation into the Friday death suggests the truck and bicycle were traveling in the same direction on Hampshire Street when the truck took a right turn onto Portland Street, police said. After the crash, the truck driver stayed on the scene.
An investigation is underway by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Cambridge Police Department and Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, officials said.
Trucks have been involved in many bicyclist deaths in and around Cambridge, including of Matthew Barker in a parking lot in The Port near Central Square in September 2022; Cantabrigian George Clemmer being killed in a collision with a dump truck in Boston in July 2022; Darryl Willis in August 2020 by a tractor-trailer near the Harvard Square T Station; Meng Jin, 24, struck and killed November 2018 by a dump truck at Museum Way and Monsignor O’Brien Highway; and Bernard “Joe” Lavins, who was hit by a tractor-trailer in October 2016 in Porter Square.
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But Mayor Simmons and Councilors Toner, Pickett, Wilson, and Nolan seem to think that protecting a few shops are more important, despite lack of evidence for harm.
This is harm, council members. Global warming is planet-sized harm. It is time to prioritize safer streets and sustainable transportation.
Absolutely terrible. I bike through that intersection every day on the way to work.
As helpful as they are for increasing safety, bike lanes are clearly not the answer to all our traffic dangers. I’m going to be much more careful now when a truck is to my left.
Separated bike lanes don’t help as much in intersections, yes. There are _other_ infrastructure solutions specifically targeted at intersections that can make things safer.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has a whole design guide for intersections (https://www.mass.gov/doc/chapter-4-intersection-design-0/download), and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) also has a design guide (https://nacto.org/publication/dont-give-up-at-the-intersection/).
Techniques for making intersection safer can include set back (recessed) crossings, corner islands, bike boxes, improvements to traffic signal head size, type, and locations, signal timing e.g. leading bike interval, turn calming, daylighting, pedestrian refuges, and a bunch more.
And now I get to go pick up my daughter from school by bike, going through that intersection coming and going. And I’ll have to explain to my daughter that the person she passed on her way to school who was getting loaded into a stretcher was killed while biking.
(Cambridge St would be a much more direct route but it doesn’t have _any_ safety improvements, and a majority of the Council voted to keep much of that route unsafe until 2027. There are still middle schoolers who bike down Cambridge St anyway…)
Another cyclist killed by a truck driver. Cambridge Day, please follow-up on the results of the investigation. This sounds like a classic right hook crash that should not happen when a professional is driving a truck.
There have been so many fatalities involving trucks, going back to Anita Kurmann and before that measures need to be taken.
I believe that a driver with a Commercial Driver’s License who is involved in a fatality should have to have a hearing that determines whether they can keep their license.
My heart aches. Twenty four years old. So much life ahead and cut down in a moment of inattention.
We really need to start having the conversation about eliminating large trucks in urban areas, especially at peak times.
@Itamar Turner-Trauring +100. There is much to be done to improve safety in interactions, but Joan Pickett would sue to stop it.
A 24 year old woman, a resident of our city, was violently killed this morning, probably just trying to get to work. She was in a well-frequented bike lane. It was broad daylight. She didn’t break any traffic laws.
The truck driver clearly failed to yield. This should be prosecuted as vehicular manslaughter.
Itamar, thank you for the intersection links. My understanding is that both recent deaths are the same situation–right hand turns by trucks while bikes going straight, no physical separation between vehicles.
I wonder how many critical Cambridge intersections follow best practices and whether fixing intersections should be our top priority with respect to bicycle safety?
Itamar, these design improvements to improve intersection safety look great. But it’ll be many years before we see their installation in a widespread manner across the city. Perhaps we’ll see it here and there within the next five years?
In the meantime, to save lives, cyclists should be strongly encouraged to ride defensively and be particularly aware of the dangers posed by trucks.
And yet we cannot move forward with more bike infrastructure because, despite no data justifying it, bike lanes supposedly ruin small businesses.
What a joke. The people have repeatedly spoken, and they want bike infrastructure.
The people risk their lives every day, and some don’t make it, to show doubters there is demand.
And yet we allow this all to be blocked over a COMPLETE FICTION regarding potential lost sales. Again, no study has proven this. Even so, mitigations have been proven to work ( such as parking being replaced on side streets).
Don’t worry, councilors Toner, Pickett, and Nolan will be ready to have another ‘conversation’ about bike lanes immediately.
Lord I cannot wait to vote against them ASAP. Enough already. Nobody ever died from lack of a parking space.
PeterG: Fixing intersections can’t be the only thing done, because there are still too many dangerous stretches of road too.
For example, two people on bikes were thrown into the street by the opening door of a parked car over the past 3 weeks (“dooring”), on east Cambridge St and on Broadway. One was taken away by ambulance. The other describes being flung in front of moving vehicles.
Doorings are extremely dangerous; two people in Cambridge have been killed this way (flung in front of a bus and a truck, respectively), and one in Somerville a couple of years ago.
And doorings are almost completely preventable by separated bike lanes. So we also need to build those, otherwise sooner or later we’ll have another dooring death.
Fines are double if someone dies due to the infraction$224.
I’m sorry to say that some of us were misled by members of the council as to who they think they represent. They presented themselves as being there to represent the People of the City but apparently think that businesses owned by non-residents should have a greater say in how safe our city will be for bicyclists, pedestrians etc.
Their judgement should no longer be trusted by residents and residents should remove them from consideration when next the city council elections occur.
Vehicular homicide…will see if this will end up there. I think the majority don’t. They will conclude, as always, that this is yet another “unfortunate accident”. Maybe Cambridge Day should investigate how many similar “unfortunate accidents” ended up with a conviction….on the part of the drivers that is not the cyclists cuz it is always easier to blame the dead. Politicians will not change this and drivers will not learn bc they can get away with it. What Cambridge does is mostly for PR….a bike lane here, one there followed by a ceremony and photo-op. Remember the blasting news when the city DOUBLED the EV charging capacity from 6 chargers to 12? So same thing. Ride defensively bc it will be a long while before change is coming if ever.
Our city council values non-resident business owners, traffic, and parking spots more than the lives of their constituents.
Accidents like this are preventable. Pedestrians and cyclists should never be crossing an intersection while trucks/cars are also doing so, but this would mean making poor motorists wait at a light. Can’t have that!
Toner, Pickett, and Nolan need to go. The people of Cambridge want bike lanes and safer streets.
There is no evidence that bikes harm business, but people are getting hurt and dying on our streets.
Toner, Pickett, and Nolan: Do your jobs. Work for the public’s benefit. Stop caving to lies and propaganda. Lives are more important than parking spots.
I can’t wait to vote them out of office.
This is so tragic and sad. Trucks in Europe are designed to eliminate blind spots that contribute to such crashes. And yet US trucks are not and SUVs get bigger and heavier, becoming more dangerous to cyclists and pedestrians.
Hey, Cambridge City Council,
The Somerville City Council is taking the right steps to protect its residents. They have passed the Safe Streets Ordinance to install 29 miles of protected bike lanes.
https://www.cambridgeday.com/2024/06/14/somerville-council-passes-safe-streets-ordinance-for-installation-of-29-miles-of-protected-bike-lanes/
It’s time for you to do your job and prioritize the safety of the people over the unfounded fears of a few business owners. Lives are more important than parking.
Toner, Pickett, Wilson, and Nolan need to go, especially Patty Nolan. She ran on a platform supporting protected bike lanes but then betrayed her supporters by backing a “pause” that could lead to preventable accidents.
We know how to make intersections safer with measures like setbacks and traffic islands. However, drivers often complain about inconvenience when the city tries to improve safety.
The tragedy involving this 24-year-old, who had her whole life ahead of her, underscores the urgency for action. The Cambridge City Council must prioritize safety over politics and stop blocking infrastructure changes due to complaints about parking.
Lives are more important than parking.
They should make safer bike lanes. Nobody mentioned educate drivers. I’m guessing less than 20% are checking over the shoulder, mirrors and signal the right turn ahead of it. Any driver that does not do that is simply an idiot. A bike lane separated by a brick wall won’t save a cyclist from these stupid reckless drivers.
My condolences to the young girl’s family and friends.
I have worked in Kendall Square for the last 16 years and had to drive by the scene several times yesterday and it breaks my heart.
As someone who is well aware of the dangers of driving in Kendall Square everyday you must have be aware at all times.
Friends and family asked me yesterday about my concerns about driving a Commercial Vehicle in KS and the analogy I use is a Quarterback calling an audible at the line of scrimmage. Your eyes are constantly on the lookout.
For the cyclist commenting on vehicles being the problem, I ask that you take the time at intersections before proceeding.
What we Commercial Drivers are now dealing with are the motorized bikes, scooters and small motorcycles that use the bike lanes. It is out of control. Red lights? 50% of the cyclist stop for them.
In closing, I will do my part to be safe driving , parking and following the rules of road, please do your part.
“For the cyclist commenting on vehicles being the problem, I ask that you take the time at intersections before proceeding.”
Cyclists have the right of way going straight. You should do that before turning.
“What we Commercial Drivers are now dealing with are the motorized bikes, scooters and small motorcycles that use the bike lanes. It is out of control. Red lights? 50% of the cyclist stop for them.”
This wasn’t an e-bike or a motorized bike. She also didn’t run a red light. What is the point of saying this here?
We’ve all grown used to seeing truck drivers with wireless headphones in (but, really??)
I was gobsmacked today to witness a very young man driving a large Amazon van while talking on full over-the-ear headphones.
Yes, pedestrians and people who bicycle are also distracted, but they’re not operating a deadly vehicle. I can’t wait until the Legislature gets off their butts and allows automated enforcement (what are they waiting for?)
I welcome their intrusion here. Put up cameras everywhere. Make people on bikes register too. Have Bluebikes hand over their records. And just ticket the heck out of everyone who runs a red light, or turns illegally, or doesn’t yield, or is driving distracted. People will learn to behave. I’m sick of people dying.
I support bike lanes. As a driver I support reduced parking around intersections to improve sight lines. I support increased intersection safety measures. I also support mandatory bike helmets which could reduce injuries when there is not car/truck/bike crashes at high speed. Helmets do not replace the need for bike lanes and intersection safety, but why not add mandatory helmets to the bike safety program?
@KS Vendor
Your statement is inaccurate. Numerous studies have shown that drivers can be just as lawless as cyclists. However, when drivers misbehave, they can kill *other people*.
The claim that “50% of cyclists stop for red lights” is incorrect. Cyclists typically perform an Idaho Stop, where they stop at the light and proceed if the way is clear. This behavior is actually safer because when the light turns green, there’s a risk of being hit by a driver making a right turn, known as a “right-hook” accident.
Meanwhile, I frequently see drivers running red lights at full speed, rolling through stop signs, and turning into intersections without looking for pedestrians or cyclists. This happens every single day.
While everyone should follow traffic rules, drivers have a greater responsibility because their misbehavior can hurt and kill others. Cars kill 7,000 pedestrians and cyclists in the US every year, yet drivers are rarely held accountable.
People make mistakes, including drivers, which is why we need safer streets. Cyclists are not the problem.
Not sure what Toner, Pickett… views on bikes lanes have to do with accidents at intersections.
Perhaps the focus should be on common ground, spending funding to make intersections safer.
Slaw and AvgJoe, I do not disagree with what you are saying. I did not come on here to fan the flames. There is no upside to it.
I am giving you one man’s perspective on driving a Commercial Vehicle in Kendall Square and Kendall Square only.
I stated at least 50% of the bike riders driving their bikes in and around KS do not follow the rules of the road. I can state that claim because I am in KS driving to my accounts 8am to 2:30pm Monday through Friday.
When the City changed the configuration of the bike lanes ( especially on Hampshire Street) there are now blind spots for both cyclists and vehicles when taking a right. As mentioned, I know how to drive my vehicle
around KS.
Cyclists need to follow the rules of the road as well. Not all accidents are the fault of vehicles.
Drivers need to follow the rules of the road. Studies show that drivers break the rules as often or more often than cyclists. Only when drivers break the rules *other people* get hurt of killed.
Cars kill 7000 pedestrians and cyclists in the US every year. Bicycles virtually none.
This is why we need our streets to be safer.
@KS Vendor,
Studies show that drivers break the rules as often as cyclists. Your estimate that 50% of cyclists break the rules is just your opinion, not a factual number.
I see drivers breaking the rules of the road every day. At major intersections in Cambridge, drivers run red lights almost every time.
Cyclists don’t run red lights; they do an Idaho Stop, meaning they stop and then proceed when it’s clear. They do this to avoid right-hook accidents, where a car turning right hits a cyclist going straight.
Do you know how this cyclist was killed? It was a right-hook accident.
@Mbakal,
Bike lanes make streets safer for everyone—cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers—through traffic calming. This includes increased safety at intersections where the bike lanes end.
Recently, two cyclists were killed at intersections. However, others were killed by being doored. Bike lanes eliminate such accidents and have already reduced accidents by 50%.
The problem is that Toner, Pickett, and other anti-bike lane advocates oppose any changes that eliminate even a single parking spot. They are holding back necessary changes to our streets, regardless of how many people are hurt or killed.
I understand what KS Vendor is saying about parked cars creating sight barriers for those in the bike lanes. As a bicyclist who has also driven vans and trucks professionally, cars parked between the car lane and the bike lane absolutely obstruct sight lines for both bicyclists and drivers.
I’m particularly concerned about those tasked with operating trucks and panel vans (vans without rear or side windows) – the parked cars between car and bike lanes make worse the blind spots for these drivers. I imagine that many or most vendors send experienced drivers out, but my guess is that there are companies sending drivers out with no experience (how many people renting a uhaul have any experience driving a vehicle of that size and with those hazards?). Companies employing these inexperienced drivers or allowing them to rent vehicles should also be held at fault for collisions.
I submitted a “seeclickfix” for the Hampshire and Columbia intersection, as this intersection is busy with bicyclists and cars turning right from Hampshire onto Columbia. I suggested the last space or two of parking be removed, but I was met with a message that the intersection meets design guidelines from MassDOT and that there is “enough space for a motorist or cyclists to stop to avert a collision.”
I don’t disagree that the intersection meets design guidelines set by MassDOT, but I disagree that those guidelines are correct and I do not believe that there is enough space for a motorist or cyclist to stop to avert a collision, particularly if the motorist is in a panel van and the cyclist has a motor.
One other extremely hazardous intersection is where Mass Ave meets Windsor. There is so much pedestrian and bicycle traffic here and there’s often a full line of parked cars completely shielding them from view to the cars turning right onto Windsor.
The solution is not to delay bike lanes, the solution is to remove parking.
Joseph Levendusky mentioned that drivers should have their commercial drivers license revoked. There is no special license test to operate a truck less than 26000 lbs, and I don’t believe either of the trucks involved in the last month’s collisions were large enough to require a special license beyond a standard driver’s license (I could be wrong!). You are required to have a medical certificate to drive a box truck, but the test to receive one is as simple as “can you see this image?/can you hear my voice?”
I can’t confirm this but I believe 3 parking spots were removed before the lights on Hampshire and Portland Streets over the weekend and replaced with new lines and Green Traffic Cones.
@bikesandbaguettes +100 Removing parking spots near intersections would improve sight lines and create a safer zone for cyclists and pedestrians, especially if a traffic island replaces the parking spot(s).
Problem intersections include Market St/Winsor St and Market St/Columbia. These angled intersections make it difficult for pedestrians to see around parked cars and for drivers to see pedestrians.
Removing parking near these intersections is necessary to prevent another tragic accident.
Those peskiest European socialists (😉) have figured this decades ago because they have public transport/bike/pedestrian centric culture and have invested accordingly. Rules, enforcement, etc. i.e it is illegal to park close to intersection or crosswalks. Did drivers complained? They sure did. They still do. The difference is that the authorities admitted that drivers have no right endanger others and consequently they can GFYS 😁. This at the very least should be State issue, not just Cambridge.