Cyclist Dies After Crash With Tractor Trailer In Harvard Square

CAMBRIDGE, MA — A bicyclist has died after the driver of a tractor trailer collied with them near Harvard Square Tuesday around 9:42 a.m., police said.

Cambridge police and fire department officials are piecing together what happened along with the Massachusetts State Police and are asking that commuters avoid the area because of serious delays.

A police spokesperson told Patch the crash happened on Massachusetts Avenue near Dunster Street headed toward Johnston Gate. He described the cyclist as an older man. The driver of the truck stayed and is cooperating with police, the spokesperson told Patch.

This is not the first time pedestrians or cyclists have been killed in crashes. Just last year a pedestrian was struck and killed by a truck not far from this intersection.

Read more: Woman Hit By Truck In Harvard Square Dies

A number of people took to social media to lament the tragedy and call for modifications in the area.

"Cities have to be designed to prioritize the safety of cyclists and pedestrians," posted someone named Liza. "Build the infrastructure. Make public areas like Harvard square people-oriented. Stop these tragedies."

Several people said tractor trailers have no business being in that intersection to begin with.

"It's time to close Harvard Sq. to cars and trucks," posted Kyle Vining.

It doesn't help that the area can be confusing for drivers, some said.

"Big truck gets confused with Harvard Square traffic patterns and suddenly swerves lanes, makes a turn, or pulls out into traffic," posted Douglas O'Reagan. "Doesn't take much to kill someone when you're driving something that heavy."

Previously:

• Bicycle Advocates Form Human Chain, Ask DCR For ...
• Cambridge Cyclist Killed In Crash With Cement Truck ...
• Woman Hit By Truck In Harvard Square Dies

Got a tip? Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, a column, event or opinion piece.