After another cyclist is killed on Shattuck, bike advocates call for a safety fix

One other one who labored arduous within the course of a future within the East Bay was knocked down final week and destroyed one other household.

Hongmei Chen, a 54-year-old single mom, cycled from her work in Oakland to her home in Berkeley within the afternoon of 17 August when she crossed the closely affected intersection at 51st Road and Shattuck Avenue. In line with a witness on the spot and a subsequent police report, Chen was hit by a big AAA truck, which meant that she had severe faces.

Shauna Harrison, a witness to the collision, advised the Oaklandsside that the driving force was within the center lane of the western highway with three lanes when he collided with Chen. Inside a number of moments of the collision, Harrison mentioned, a number of folks hurried to Chen’s assist, together with a physician who had been throughout the Arco tank station throughout the road.

Falck -Relocators and the workers of the Oakland hearth brigade quickly arrived and Chen was dropped at the Highland Hospital. She died three days afterward her accidents, on August 19.

The police mentioned that it “appeared” that Chen cycled in a northerly course on Shattuck Avenue “by way of a purple mild” when the driving force of the truck handed by way of a inexperienced mild on the 51st road on the 51st road. The Oakland police mentioned that the truck driver remained on stage and made a press release to officers; The identify of the driving force has not been launched.

The police of Oakland ask those that have witnessed the collision or her aftermath to contact the visitors investigation unit of the Division on 510-777-8570.

The lawyer of the Chen household, Roseann Torres, advised the Oaklandside that Chen was on his method to the Academy of Chinese language Tradition and Well being Sciences within the heart of Oakland, the place she additionally took classes in acupuncture and therapeutic massage. She is a resident of China, she raised her 16-year-old daughter alone and had massive plans for each.

“She was planning to graduate and be in observe herself,” Torres mentioned. “It is an unlucky flip of occasions.”

Torres mentioned that she is evaluating the scenario for a potential lawsuit and is at present ready for town and is a glance to present her video of the conflict of close by firms.

“The witness mentioned that Hongmei crossed a purple, however we have now no proof of that,” Torres mentioned. “We attempt to discover out what’s going on, as a result of it’s a massive intersection. Folks go on the freeway there; it’s filthy. I at all times introduced my daughter to Oakland Tech by way of that space.”

The lawyer mentioned that the Van Chen household is “shocked” and tries to search out consolation within the midst of a rising variety of administrative and authorized points. Chen’s daughter now stays together with her aunt, who lives within the space, whereas he additionally tries to begin a brand new faculty 12 months. The daddy will not be concerned and isn’t within the nation, so Chen’s sister and her husband attempt to get custody of Chen’s daughter by way of a bench.

The stays of Chen are nonetheless within the Highland Hospital, as a result of the household is ready for the post-mortem report and a whole police report. The funeral will not be but deliberate.

“For now it’s a matter of hanging tight and hoping that the coroner can prioritize this in order that they can provide her the funeral,” Torres mentioned.

Calls to guard cyclists on the intersection

Within the meantime, proponents of secure streets name for fast modifications to the intersection to enhance the circumstances there.

Site visitors violence Speedy Response Volunteers put paper characters on the visitors lights on the intersection within the aftermath of the collision on the lookout for extra data.

In an Instagram afterThe group mentioned that “there was at present no secure manner for a bicycle owner to cross this excessive quantity and excessive velocity intersection.”

Each streets are normally stuffed with vehicles and there aren’t any protected bicycle lane that separates cyclists from autos. The Oaklandsside visited the intersection 4 instances final week and noticed a number of drivers – however no cyclists – a purple mild on the intersection. Different vehicles stopped strongly on prime of the pedestrian pedestrian crossing path. Pace ​​violations was the norm.

“Our hearts go to her life, demolished when she did one thing easy when driving her bike, and we lengthen our deepest sympathies for her household and buddies,” mentioned Speedy Response of visitors violence within the Instagram Submit. “We’re unhappy and indignant that one other life has been taken tragically due to stopping visitors violence.”

Feedback in regards to the publish of people that describe themselves as native cyclists level to the hazard of the intersection and potential options.

“I’m continually driving by way of this, and I’m at all times a bit scared if the bicycle lane falls and we get a Sharrow” – a shared lane – “for half a block,” wrote Scott Karoly, a planner from San Jose Transportation. “A steady bicycle lane to the north, a greater transition in a southerly course the place the bike strip falls to open the best turning bag, and steady markings by way of the intersection would assist. Concrete separation as much as and within the intersection would assist extra.”

“I cycled that intersection twice a day for greater than a decade,” positioned a bicycle owner known as Dominic. “I at all times mentioned a prayer earlier than I did. Such a tragic and fully stopping tragedy.”

Witnesses can attain reporter Jose Fermoso to supply extra data jose@oaklandside.org.

Correction: The primary model of this text said that the collision passed off on Telegraph and 51st Road. It was at 51st Road and Shattuck Avenue.