No charges in collision that killed 49-year-old cyclist
Posted Oct 7, 2015 09:39:28 AM.
Last Updated Oct 13, 2015 02:56:29 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX — Regional Police say they’ve concluded their investigation into a fatal collision that occurred last week in the city.
Officers responded to a vehicle crash involving a cyclist last Wednesday morning at the intersection of Herring Cove Road and Purcells Cove Road.
49-year old Loresa Makonin was travelling along Herring Cove Road around 8:40 am when she collided with a propane truck that investigators say was making a lawful right-hand turn from Herring Cove onto Purcells Cove Road.
Makonin, who was from Halifax, died as a result of her injuries.
The investigation by the Collision Investigation Unit determined no charges will be laid against the driver of the truck because he did not violate the Motor Vehicle Act.
The Halifax Cycling Coalition says there have been several collisions between people on bicycles and drivers of motor vehicles in this popular commuter and recreational cyclist area in recent years
The death is the second in two years and fourth in ten years that the Halifax Cycling Coalition is aware of.
All four were killed in collisions with heavy trucks. For this reason, the Halifax Cycling Coalition asked Halifax to install protective side-guards on its trucks and those of its contractors, as was done in Boston and Montreal.
The coalition points to research showing that more than half of people on bicycles killed by a heavy truck were first impacted by the side of the vehicle, and then are often dragged under the tire.
Sideguards have been shown to reduce the risk of fatality by 61% in the event of a collision between a person on a bicycle and the side of a truck.
The coalition says the issue is currently being studied by city staff.
