Cyclist Killed by Garbage Truck Not Wearing Helmet: SFPD

A bicyclist who was fatally struck by a garbage truck in San  Francisco's Mission District this morning was not wearing a helmet, police  said.

The collision was reported shortly before 6:45 a.m. at 16th Street  and South Van Ness Avenue.

The 21-year-old male bicyclist and the garbage truck were both  traveling east on 16th Street when the truck began to make a right turn onto  South Van Ness, police spokesman Officer Carlos Manfredi said.

The bicyclist, who was traveling at a high rate of speed, collided  with the rear of the truck, Manfredi said.

The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is not  being released until his family is notified of the death, according to the  medical examiner's office.

The mangled white bicycle ended up a block away along a curb on  17th Street. The truck driver stopped and cooperated with authorities, and  drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the collision, police said.

The investigation into the crash and the cleanup of the scene  caused police to shut down South Van Ness between 16th and 17th streets for  about two hours.

The garbage truck is owned by Recology, which issued a statement  following the collision.

"Recology staff responded immediately to this morning's accident  and we are fully cooperating with police investigators," the statement said.  "Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to family members of the cyclist."
   
 

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