Nederland cyclist dies in crash
Woman hit by gravel truck at intersection outside of Boulder
Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News
Published June 27, 2006 at midnight
BOULDER - A woman bicycling with her mother was killed Monday after being struck by a gravel truck that witnesses said went through a red light.
The Boulder County coroner's office identified the victim as Linnea Luscher, 39, of Nederland.
She was pronounced dead at the scene of the 10 a.m. accident at the intersection of 63rd Street and the Diagonal Highway northeast of Boulder.
The semitrailer-truck that hit her was from Concrete Express Inc., and investigators will be looking at possible equipment and brake failure, said State Patrol spokesman Eric Wynn.
The mother, whose name and age were not released, wasn't injured, police said.
Witnesses told police that the two bicyclists and a large box truck from the Yellow trucking company had the green light and were going south on 63rd Street through the intersection.
The semi truck had a red light but kept going through the intersection, heading northeast along Highway 119, the Diagonal Highway that connects Boulder to Longmont, witnesses told police.
At the scene, the large box truck was crushed against the left side of the Concrete Express truck.
The drivers of the two trucks were slightly injured, police said.
About 10 feet behind the Concrete Express truck lay the two bicycles.
Concrete Express issued a statement Monday afternoon saying it is "fully cooperating with the accident investigation" and will continue to do so.
The company, based in Denver, "would like to extend its sincere sympathy to the families affected by this accident," the statement said.
Wynn said owners of semis are required to keep up on maintenance, and drivers are required to inspect their trucks every day to see that they're safe.
Citing the ongoing nature of the investigation, the company declined to comment further.
Wednesday is bike-to-work day, when thousands of extra bicyclists are expected on the road.
Wynn cautioned motorists to be aware of bicyclists and give them plenty of room on the shoulders of roads.
Likewise, he cautioned bicyclists to obey all the traffic rules and be aware of traffic at all times.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
