A bicycle accident disturbed the morning commute in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood this morning. Police say a woman was struck by a truck this morning at the corner of Mission and Fremont Streets in San Francisco. Police believe, based upon preliminary information, the woman may have made an illegal left turn just before the San Francisco bike accident. San Francisco Police Lieutenant Troy Dangerfield says the woman was hit by a food distribution truck shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The woman suffered severe injuries in the accident. Any accident involving a bicycle can lead to severe personal injuries. A truck accident involving a bicycle can lead to life threatening injuries. Initial police reports indicated the woman was killed in the accident. However, police have clarified that the woman suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital for treatment.
The bicycle and truck accident remains under investigation. Preliminary reports are frequently later supplemented with additional information as witnesses come forward and other evidence is reviewed. Police say they have obtained footage of the crash from a nearby business surveillance camera. Police hope to obtain more information from the surveillance footage related to the cause of the accident.
Police say the injured woman was not wearing a bicycle helmet at the time of the crash.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 500,000 people require treatment in hospitals after being involved in a bicycle accident. More than 700 fatalities occur each year across the country in bike accidents. Bicyclists are extremely vulnerable to head and leg injuries.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, “Bicyclist critically injured South of Market,” Henry K. Lee 20 Jul 2011
