Cyclist struck and killed near Convention Center yesterday

[Kalidurga]

WTOP news (http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1932709). I don't know whether any of the DC-TE folks have any reason to be down that way, but I couldn't help but wonder. Y'all ride carefully out there.

[7rider]

I just saw that.
Yes....I can think of two.
Hopefully....early in the a.m. for them.
Please check in.....:(
Be careful out there.

[tulip]

That was my commuting route. I heard repeated reference to a bike accident on the radio last night. Y'all check in-you know who you are.

EDIT: The Post says that a National Guard military vehicle doing motorcade duty hit and killed a cyclist. It was around the Convention Center, so things were hectic with the nuclear conference going on. The Post said that the cyclist was believed to be a female, but no names were given. Really tragic.

[pfunk12]

Already got an e-mail from 7 this morning to see if I was okay. I didn't commute to work yesterday since I worked at home. Sounds like it was a horrific accident. So sad.

[tulip]

Thanks for checking in, pfunk. You were on my list, and I'm so glad you are okay.

[7rider]

Just heard from DivingBiker, too.
Wasn't her, either.
Whew.

[pfunk12]

I thought of DB, too. Thanks, 7, for letting us know that she's okay.

[Cataboo]

I saw a bit on the news last night about it - sounds like there were police/people doing crowd patrol keeping the crowd/people back from the truck, the first truck missed the bicycle, the 2nd truck hit - but each truck had someone walking beside it on the other side to watch for pedestrians and such...

I guess the video will show how she managed to get run over.

[tulip]

just heard from divingbiker, too.
Wasn't her, either.
Whew.

whew!

[ny biker]

This is terrible.

Last night after work I drove from Arlington into DC (Foggy Bottom) -- I witnessed a near miss when a limo van forced the pickup truck in front of me off the road while changing lanes and then watched the same van accelerate to run a red light through a 3-street intersection (Pennsylvania, 25th and L Sts) along with 2 other limos it was traveling with. If this is how the official vehicles were driving, it's a miracle there weren't more accidents.

[tulip]

The cyclist was Constance Holden, 68 years old, who worked for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Here's a link to the Washington Post, but you have to register to see it (free): link (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/getthere/?hpid=newswell)

[Kalidurga]

WTOP has also updated their article:


A veteran journalist who was bicycling five blocks from the Convention Center Monday was killed in a collision with a 5.5-ton military truck that was blocking an intersection so a motorcade could pass through.

Police identified the cyclist as Constance Holden, 68, of Northwest.

Holden had apparently just left the headquarters of the American Association for the Advancement of Science when the accident occurred, according to the web site for AAAS, where Holden worked for the journal, "Science."

The military truck was pulling forward to block New York Avenue at 12th Street when the accident occurred, says Maj. Gen. Erol Schwartz, commanding general for the D.C. National Guard.

U.S. Secret Service spokesman Max Milien says the accident happened about 6:05 p.m.

"Every time we move a vehicle, there is a ground guide," Schwartz said.

Schwartz says a video of what happened will be reviewed. The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the fatality. Officials have not said who was being escorted in the motorcade connected to the Nuclear Security Summit.

Holden joined "Science" in 1970. She was known not only for her writing, but also for her oil paintings.

"This is a terrible loss both personally and professionally for so many on our staff who knew her well," said Alan I. Leshner, chief executive officer of AAAS, as he informed staffers.

Holden is survived by her husband John Butters of D.C.

I'm glad to know that it wasn't any of our gang, but still so very sad that it had to happen to anyone.

[PamNY]

This is so tragic; my heart goes out to everyone involved. While I don't know what caused this accident, I do know from experience that situations like this can be a nightmare for cyclists.

[7rider]

I'm glad to know that it wasn't any of our gang, but still so very sad that it had to happen to anyone.

I agree 100%

[Blueberry]

So very sad. I do hope they can get to the bottom of what happened and prevent it from happening in the future. We've had a few high profile folks taken from us in bicycle-fatalities. Some were (truly) the cyclist's fault and some weren't. Either way, they hurt and they always make me thing twice when I get on my bike and ride. Sad, but true.

[Kalidurga]

I don't usually think much of WTOP's reporting despite the fact that they're quick to get news out there, but this is a very nice, positive response to the recent accident: On the road, who rules? Cyclist or driver? (http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1933856), instructive videos included.

Though it could have been better if they'd emphasized the idea of "sharing" the road rather than "ruling" it.