Surveillance Footage Captures Biker Crushed Beneath Turning Semi Truck
Bicyclist struck by turning semi truck in Spokane incident captured on surveillance video
A man riding a bicycle was struck by a semi truck while the truck was making a right turn in Spokane, Washington, on Thursday. The incident occurred at the intersection of East Sprague Avenue and South Thierma, where surveillance video captured the collision.
According to the available video description, the bicyclist was traveling in a designated bike lane along the passenger side of the tractor-trailer. The semi truck approached the intersection and appeared to slow with its turn signal activated as it prepared to make a right turn.
The bicyclist continued forward alongside the truck. The video appears to show the truck turning across the bicycle’s path, after which the rider was struck and fell to the pavement. The truck then appeared to pause before continuing forward over the area where the bicyclist had fallen.
The bicyclist’s condition was not known. Authorities had not issued any citations at the time of the available information, and the incident remained under investigation.
The collision highlights the risks that can develop when commercial vehicles and bicycles travel alongside one another at intersections. Right turns are particularly challenging because a tractor-trailer’s trailer follows a tighter path than the tractor, creating a wide turning movement that can cross a bike lane or other adjacent travel space.
Large trucks also have areas around the vehicle that are difficult or impossible for the driver to see directly from the cab. The passenger side can be especially difficult to monitor during a turn, as the driver must manage the intersection, the trailer’s path, nearby traffic and vulnerable road users at the same time.
For professional drivers, the incident is a reminder of the importance of checking mirrors repeatedly before and during a turn, confirming that adjacent lanes are clear and allowing extra time for cyclists or other road users who may be traveling beside the truck. A turn signal communicates a driver’s intention, but it does not by itself confirm that the path is clear.
Drivers should also account for the possibility that a cyclist may remain beside the truck or continue through the intersection. When conditions are unclear, maintaining a safe position and waiting until the area beside the truck is visible and clear can help reduce the risk of a right-turn collision.
The investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the movements of the truck and bicyclist before impact. Until that process is complete, no conclusions about fault can be drawn from the surveillance footage alone.
