Cyclist Struck, Killed in DC

A 22-year old woman who was struck by a dump truck at Connecticut and R St. NW about 7:45am this morning. She did not survive. This would be the first fatality in the District in 10 months. I'll give more details as available.

D.C. Fire Rescue crews say a 22-year-old woman was hit and killed as she rode her bicycle along a street in Northwest early Tuesday morning.

Investigators say the accident happened at Connecticut Avenue NW and R Street NW. He says a trash truck hit the cyclist.

Emergency crews performed CPR at the scene, but fire crews say they were unable to save her.

The victim has not been identified yet.

Update: from NBC and News 8. The driver remained on the scene. Connecticut Avenue and R Streets remain closed in the area.

Update: The garbage truck was not owned by the city. And now the Post

The victim was struck at 7:37 a.m., D.C. police spokesman Kenny Bryson said. An officer in the uniformed division of the Secret Service was nearby and pulled the woman from under the truck to administer CPR, said Alan Etter, a spokesman for the D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

She could not be revived.

"The truck just ran completely over her," Etter said.

The truck was owned by KMG Hauling Inc., a Sterling-based company. In a telephone interview, KMG Hauling owner Hugo Garcia said his company is still investigating details of the accident.

"We're looking at everything, trying to figure out what happened," Garcia said. "It looks like an unfortunate accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased."

He would not say how long the driver of the truck had been employed by KMG, or whether his company was working for the city or a private residence or business.

On its Web site, KMG is described as "the leading provider of waste and environmental management services" to the D.C. metropolitan area. The company has been in existence for nearly 30 years, the Web site says, with "a variety of commercial and residential accounts including restaurants, hotels, office and apartment buildings, retail stores, government buildings, construction companies and housing communities."

Some two hours after the accident, the mangled remains of the woman's bicycle were still visible under the truck's right front tire. A helmet and a backpack could be seen on the street a few feet away.

Update: DCist has some photos of the scene.

Update: News 8 is reporting that

Sources say the woman was riding on the sidewalk on R Street parallel to the truck, which was traveling in the same direction. When the light turned green for both lanes, the bicyclist rode into the crosswalk just as the truck was making a right turn.

Comments

[SteveH]

This is truly sad. I bike along Mass Ave around Dupont Circle frequently and find it to be a risky area (for driving and cycling). I hope this triggers action on the part of the city.

[Jason]

Very sad. She was apparently biking westward on the sidewalk (through the crosswalk, with the light) when the truck made a right onto 20th st and struck her.

I think a Memorial or visibility ride to call attention to pedestrian and cyclist fatalities/injuries would be a great idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6NGBlFrURE

[washcycle]

I agree, but I feel uncomfortable organizing a ride for someone I don't know. It feels opportunistically political. But, if her friends/family organize a ride or memorial I'd publicize it here.

[tina]

Washcycle, I did not know Alice Swanson but I feel true grief for this young woman and her family. Her death was public. And horrible, disturbing, especially for those of us who ride regularly. I don't think a public display of grief for a public tragedy is crass. I feel for the driver and his family too.

[washcycle]

I don't believe it would be crass. WABA has been planning just such a show in coordination with the family. WABA represents area cyclists and I think it's appropriate.

But for me to organize it would make me feel weird. That's all I meant.