Newton Patch and WHDH-Boston are reporting that an SUV driver hit a teen cyclist at 425 Watertown Street last night at about 4:30 PM. The teen was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. A witness describes the teen as bleeding from the head.
According to the WHDH report, the driver was turning into the driveway at 425 Watertown Street. Contact was at the right rear of the car, suggesting that the driver and cyclist were both traveling southwest and the driver turned in front of the cyclist while making a right turn.
The driver owns Dana’s Moving Services, which is located behind 425 Watertown St.
http://bcove.me/ws2i6z1i
Did we ever find out what happened with the teen who was hit in 2016 on Walnut Street in the Highlands?
Sadly, many motorists are not aware that they may not overtake a bike and then make an abrupt right turn into a driveway. I believe the term is called “hooking” a bike. The relevant portion of the motor vehicle law states: “No person operating a vehicle that overtakes and passes a bicyclist proceeding in the same direction shall make a right turn at an intersection or driveway unless the turn can be made at a safe distance from the bicyclist at a speed that is reasonable and proper.” General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 90, Section 14.
My thoughts and prayers are for a full recovery for this young person.
Chuck: Alex is the boy who was hit back in the late summer on Walnut. He had a lot of injuries, but he has been working hard and is doing much better. He has been a member of Bike Newton and even took time to attend the Just Think event at NNHS last month with us to talk about the importance of wearing a helmet and learning the rules of the road. The kids listened. Lois Levin taped a show with him on NewTV as part of her Trailblazers. You should be able to google it.
As for this crash, it is time for Watertown St. to be reconstructed to make it safer for all users, narrower travel lanes, protected bike lanes and defined driveway entrances to keep the sidewalks safer.