Cyclist hit and killed by truck at Dartmouth intersection

HALIFAX – A woman is dead after being hit by a truck at an intersection in Dartmouth on Wednesday afternoon.

The woman, who police say is in her 30s, was riding her bicycle northbound on Windmill Road when the truck, which was also heading north, reportedly hit her while making a right-hand turn onto Albro Lake Road. She died at the scene.

Police have not yet determined whether the woman was riding her bicycle on the sidewalk or the road.

Witness Nicole Donovan said she was walking on the other side of the street when the collision occurred.

“I don’t know if she was coming straight or if she was trying to turn. The next thing I know, he hit her, ran over her full force,” she said.

“It was traumatizing. I’ve never seen something like that.”

The driver remained on the scene and police said he is co-operating with their investigation.

Const. Pierre Bourdages says the woman’s death is the first as a result of vehicle-cyclist collision this year.

“We have no indication as to why the collision occurred,” he said.

The area was closed to traffic for several hours while police reconstructed the scene, took pictures of the bicycle and mapped out the intersection.

Bourdages say investigators are focusing on putting together a timeline.

Cyclist Alida Bundy, who was riding by after the incident, was shocked to hear about the fatality.

“Drivers just need to be more aware of cyclists,” she said. “We have equal rights on the road.”

She also adds that cyclists need to play their role.

Bourdages said it’s too early to determine whether or not charges will be laid against the driver.