Cyclist killed in collision with dump truck in downtown Vancouver
Police are investigating after a 28-year-old cyclist was killed in a collision with a dump truck in downtown Vancouver Wednesday morning.
The crash happened in the intersection of Pacific and Hornby streets at around 7:30 a.m., the Vancouver Police Department said in a news release.
"Efforts to save the cyclist's life were not successful and he died at the scene," police said. "The driver of the dump truck is co-operating with police."
A damaged blue and black bicycle could be seen underneath the truck in the aftermath of the accident, which snarled traffic during the morning rush hour.
Nearby residents say the design of the intersection is confusing and accidents like this one are all too common.
"Even if this area is very well labeled and there's a lot of signage, there is definitely a lot going on," said local resident Sabrina Nunes.
"This isn't the first accident that we've seen here," she continued.
Reckless Bike Shop owner Paul Dragan echoes the sentiment.
"There's a lot of lights flashing here. There's a lot of signals here. And it can be very confusing for everybody involved," he said, adding that it took him years to comprehend all the different road symbols.
But Jeff Leigh of Hub Cycling disagrees as he believes the set-up of the area is appropriate and ideal.
"This is not a corner where we would say, 'We have a problem with this intersection.' This intersection has been completed and is looking, from an infrastructure standpoint, is what we'd like to see in a lot more locations," he said.
He urges drivers and cyclists to educate themselves on their responsibilities on the road, but says since the area is prioritized for bikes, the responsibility is on the drivers to watch out for cyclists.
"The cyclist in this intersection has a clear right of way," Leigh said, adding that it's important for everyone on the road to look for each other and stay cautious.
"I think there might be a bit of false security of cyclists in a bike lane going, 'I'm in a bike lane,' 'I'm in the right here.' And it doesn't matter who's right or wrong if you have an accident, right?'" said Dragan.
"All that matters is that somebody got hurt or in this case, somebody got killed."
The area is once again open to drivers and cyclists.
The cause of the crash is still unknown, and investigators do not believe the driver was speeding or impaired at the time of the collision.
Authorities asked anyone with information or dash-cam video of the collision to contact Vancouver police at 604-717-3012.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Here's how much more Canadian landlords are asking for now, according to a just-released report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.