Trucker horrified to find bike in his wheels
Cyclist, 30, in serious condition
THE DRIVER of a dump truck that ran over a 30-year-old cyclist in Waterdown is not expected to face charges in the horrific crash, which he only realized happened after being flagged down and discovering a twisted green bicycle stuck in his wheels.
The Hamilton cyclist’s injuries were considered life-threatening when he was taken to hospital after the noonhour crash on Wednesday; however, his condition Thursday was serious but stable, said Det. Const. Mathew Hewko of the collision reconstruction unit. The cyclist was in surgery Thursday evening, after which his prognosis was expected to become clearer.
Police spoke with a number of witnesses after the Dundas Street East (Highway 5) crash, Hewko said. He added police don’t expect to lay charges against the driver of the truck, a 37year-old man from Sebringville, Ont., which is near Stratford.
The investigation has revealed the dump truck driver had the green light when the cyclist crossed on a red in front of traffic at Hamilton Street, Hewko said.
Cam Whyte, a witness who spoke
with police at the scene, said Thursday he was still shaken by what he saw.
He was stopped at the light westbound on Dundas, a few cars back from the dump truck. Whyte was in the right lane and the dump truck was the first in line in the left lane.
A cyclist was southbound and crossed in front of the traffic as the light changed, Whyte said. Then the dump truck, which had the green light, started to move.
“I’m thinking the worst,” he said, recalling the moment when he lost sight of the cyclist.
Seconds later, Whyte said, he saw the cyclist tumble out of the dump truck’s wheels.
It looked like two other cars ran over the cyclist, he said.
However, Hewko said evidence at the scene shows the victim wasn’t run over by any vehicle other than the dump truck.
Whyte said a number of cars kept driving, but he stopped in the intersection and honked, blocking traffic. Another witness ran to the man, while another started directing traffic. At first, the cyclist wasn’t moving, but then he lifted his head and screamed.
Whyte pulled into a nearby gas station and started yelling for a phone to call 911. When he saw several people on their phones, he jumped back in his car to chase down the dump truck.
Whyte said he caught up with the truck a couple of kilometres away near Highway 6, pulled up beside him, honked and rolled down the window, yelling for the driver to pull over. The driver had no idea what had happened. At first he told Whyte “you have the wrong guy.” But when they pulled over, got out and a walked around the side of the truck, they were horrified to see a green bike stuck in the wheels.
“It didn’t sink in until he saw the bicycle ... he said, ‘Man, I’m going to be sick.’”
Then Whyte flagged down a police officer and explained what had happened.
“I’ll never forget it. I’ll never get it out of my mind.”
Police have ruled out speed, alcohol, mechanical error and distracted driving as factors in the crash. Police did not find a helmet at the scene. Barring any new information from witnesses or the hospital, Hewko said the investigation is likely to be completed soon.
Anyone with information can call Hewko at 905-546-4755, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.crimestoppershamilton.com