OGDEN, Utah (KUTV) — A garbage truck driver reportedly did not see a bicyclist in a crosswalk before hitting and killing him Monday morning.
This incident comes just over a week after a similar accident in Tooele that also resulted in a cyclist’s death.
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Monday’s tragedy brings the total number of bicyclist deaths for the year to three. While that’s an improvement from recent years, it’s still two fatalities in under two weeks during a time bike advocates consider to be the most dangerous on our streets.
Luwen Cunningham started her workday with a tragic view outside her window.
“It’s got to be hard for him or her to realize that whatever happened, happened,” she said. “I feel for both families. The one, the family that lost someone today, and the driver. It’s just really hard for everybody involved.”
Just after 6 a.m. Monday, police said a garbage truck driver hit a bicyclist while turning onto 12th Street from Wall Avenue. They said the cyclist, in his mid-thirties, died at the scene.
Police confirmed that the cyclist was in a crosswalk.
Cameron Carter, who works with Bike Utah, a non-profit advocacy group, emphasized that tragedies like this highlight the need for safer infrastructure.
“A couple of weeks ago, there was another cyclist hit in Tooele, and earlier this year, another cyclist was killed in Murray,” he said. According to Carter, there were 24 bicyclist deaths across the state in 2022 and 2023, and he worries that number could climb.
“July through October are the most dangerous times of the year for cyclists,” Carter explained. “As the weather cools down and people start riding more, I think we’re unfortunately likely to see more fatalities until cities actually decide to start building safer streets.”
When 2News asked what improvements could be made to areas this busy and developed, Carter suggested raised crosswalks, more elaborate street markings, and flashing lights as potential solutions.
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