Bicyclist Hit And Killed By Dump Truck Was Boston University Grad Student

CAMBRIDGE (CBS) – A bicyclist was hit and killed by a dump truck Friday morning near the Museum of Science in Boston. It happened around 8 a.m. at the intersection of Museum Way and Monsignor O'Brien Highway.

Boston University confirmed the bicyclist was 24-year-old Meng Jin, a graduate student at the school.

Massachusetts State Police said Jin was hit by a 50-year-old Leicester man driving a 2016 Western Star truck.

Police say an initial investigation shows the truck and bicyclist were both stopped at the intersection waiting to take a right turn onto Museum Way. When both attempted to make the same turn, the bicyclist was struck by one of the truck's tires.

He was rushed to Mass General Hospital but did not survive.

Chris Bradley witnessed the crash. "It was horrific," he said. "There was just a lot of blood. Two nurses ran right over, started performing CPR. At that time another gentleman just took over his shirt actually was trying to help stop the bleeding as much as possible."

Ken Sebesta was also there. "I saw the bicycle flat on the pavement. A red bike. Wheel in the air. And I saw the pool of blood. And it really tore me apart."

Sebesta said he bikes this highway two to four times a day. "I saw frustration and anguish in all the pedestrians and cyclists who were coming by. Everybody stopped to take a look, to take a second and see because we all recognize ourselves here."

Jin, originally from Shanghai, China, began studying economics at BU in September. He lived in Cambridge.

The driver of the dump truck stayed on scene. The truck was towed away.

No charges have been filed at this time, so the driver's identity has not been released.

Traffic restrictions were put in place after the crash, but cars were able to get by via one lane in each direction. The road reopened completely around 11 a.m.

"We are extremely sad about this most unfortunate accident," said Kenneth Elmore, associate provost and dean of students, in a written statement. "The University's thoughts and prayers are with the student's family."

A number of counseling services have been made available to students, faculty, and staff at the school.

According to Becca Wolfson of the Boston Cyclist Union, 17 cyclists have been killed in Boston and Cambridge alone. "The state had made a promise that when the Longfellow Bridge construction was complete, which happened in June, that they would add bike lanes to O'Brien Highway and along the stretch where the cyclist was killed," she said. "Basically the state made a choice to trade safety for convenience for motorists."