Victim Identified in Fatal Porter Square Bicycle Crash

CAMBRIDGE, MA — The victim of a fatal collision between a bicycle and a semi truck Wednesday morning near Porter Square was identified late that night.

In a statement, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Cambridge Police Commissioner Christopher Burke said the man's name was Bernard Lavins.

Lavins, 60, of Lexington, was pronounced dead at the scene.

An active investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Cambridge Police Department and the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section.

Both EMS and police arrived on-scene near Porter Square around 8:08 a.m., according to public information officer Jeremy Warnick, who said Lavins was struck on his bicycle around that time by an 18-wheeler.

Lavins was hit on Mass Avenue, in front of the Dunkin' Donuts, according to Warnick. That section of the street does include a marked bike lane and is a considerable distance from the busy Porter Square intersection.

As of about 3:30 p.m., Mass. Ave. was reopened in both directions, after being cordoned off by police for most of the day and early afternoon.

The situation is a sadly familiar one, particularly in Somerville and Cambridge.

A community gathering was scheduled for Wednesday night:

Photo courtesy @bosoxsara