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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Bicyclist Killed on Post Road East

UPDATE A bicyclist was killed today in a collision with a truck on Westport’s Post Road East, police said.

Westport detectives examine a bicycle hit by a dump truck today on Post Road East in front of the Compo Shopping Center. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Witnesses said the man, who was not immediately identified, was riding in the area of the Compo Shopping Center near Compo Road North at about 2:25 p.m. when he collided with the dump truck.

A police news release said:"Preliminary investigation determined that a male bicyclist made contact with a dump truck traveling westbound.”

Police, fire and Westport EMS units responded within minutes. The man was later pronounced dead at Norwalk Hospital, according to police Lt. Dale Call. Police closed off a portion of the roadway while they conducted their investigation.

This dump truck was involved in today’s fatal bicycle accident on Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The accident is being investigated by members of the department’st accident investigation team, assisted by members of the Connecticut state police truck squad, Call said.

He said as of 6:30 p.m., the victim had not been positively identified.

There has been recent utility work in the roadway in the area where the accident occurred, but it was not known if this was a factor.

Comments:     Comment Policy

What a tragedy.  I was coming out of Trader Joes immediately after it happened.  Westport’s police, EMS and fire were all on hand and appeared to do everything possible to take care of the bicyclist and the traffic in a professional and sensitive manner.

I grieve for this unknown traveler on our roads.  It certainly gave me some recognition of how very careful we all need to be with one another.

Maggie is so right.  Bicyclists and pedestrians are so vulnerable in our town because we haven’t provided for their needs in our traffic planning considerations.  Just as with the Minneapolis bridge collapse, why does it take a death to wake us up to the reality of vulnerabilities in our infrastructure?  Anyone who read Suzanne Sheridan’s letter to the editor last week in the Minuteman should not be surprised by this tragic accident.  She pointed out the dangers of riding a bicycle in Westport at a time when, ironically, riding a bicycle could well be a viable alternative to driving our polluting cars.  But when a tragic accident like this occurs, who is going to choose to ride a bicycle instead of driving a car?  Hopefully, as Suzanne pointed out in her letter, the new Town Plan to be presented in October, will have plans for safe bicycle lanes in Westport. And if not, why not?

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