Arlington Cyclist Involved in Collision, Dies

[Mark Blacknell]

A cyclist and car collided on the Four Mile Run Drive access road near Walter Reed Drive, this afternoon. It occurred here:

The ACPD news release:

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Police Department is investigating a fatal traffic accident that occurred this afternoon in the 4000 block of Four Mile Run Drive. At approximately 2:56 p.m. on Saturday [Sunday, actually – ed.], May 8, 2011, police responded for a bicyclist that collided with a vehicle.

Investigation revealed that an adult man was riding his bicycle south on South Walter Reed Drive and turned right onto the access road of Four Mile Run Drive. It appears that when he turned onto Four Mile Run Drive, he crossed into oncoming traffic and struck an occupied vehicle. The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene of the accident. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. He will be identified once the next of kin has been notified.

The Arlington County Police asking that any witnesses of the accident contact the Department at 703 558-2222, or Detective Don Fortunato at 703 228-4197.

This explanation makes sense in light of the markings on the road (I visited the scene after I heard the first ARLnow report, in the hope that I could better understand, first hand, what happened). However, it’s not clear to me, as cyclist who has made this same turn, why the cyclist would have taken that path. The report has the cyclist coming down the hill you see in the left corner of the photo (and it’s quite a long and steep hill), and given the position of the collision, apparently deciding to turn after the slip turn lane you see on the left, and coming completely across into the far lane.

(As I thought more about it, and posted in a comment to my own site, it’s quite possible that that the cyclist did make the slip lane, went into the car coming the other direction, and was carried back toward the intersection as the car came to a halt (I’m assuming that the comments posted at ARLnow about a smashed windshield are true). Otherwise, it’s just a really awkward line, no matter which turn was attempted.)

The orange markings are all related to the accident. The square that is roughly next to the bus stop sign is where the car stopped. The orange you see on the left side are – I assume – markings for where various pieces of the bike/clothing/etc. were found. Here’s another view (I’m not terribly keen on publishing any close-up photos)

I’m hoping we get more information soon.

In any event, it’s terribly sad. Ride safely.

Topic

[acc]

Again, what a horrible tragedy. I cannot express the depth of my sympathy to his family, words fail me.
ann

[PotomacCyclist]

Sorry to hear about the accident and death.

I don’t think it’s safe for cyclists to make that right turn at speed, no matter what line they take. That hill is too steep and cyclists pick up too much speed to make that turn safely. Even if you stay in the correct lane, there can be pedestrians crossing Four Mile Run. I think it’s best for cyclists to slow down to a very slow speed before trying to make that turn. It wouldn’t be smart for a car to make that turn at 25 mph. It’s even less smart for a cyclist to do that.

As for the slip lane, I believe that it will be removed as part of the upgrades and design changes at that intersection. WashCycle had a recent post about it.

[skreaminquadz]

I get back to the office this morning after being out a week and read this and then read a global email from my employer. He worked for the same employer as I do. A very sad week for cycling indeed.

[Author]

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