After Hit-and-Run, Bicyclist Tracks Down the Vehicle That He Believes Hit Him (Updated 10/26/2022)

On Sunday, October 23, 2022, around 5:00 p.m., a man from Norwood reported to police that, two hours prior to his report, he was biking on Winter Street in Westwood when a vehicle struck him. 

The bicyclist reported that he and the vehicle were both traveling south on Winter Street when the vehicle made a right turn onto Colby Way and allegedly hit the complainant. The bicyclist reported that the impact caused him to fall to the ground.

The complainant reported that the vehicle which he believes struck him continued on its way without stopping. Police note that the bicyclist followed the car to a residence on Colby Street, where the bicyclist reported watching it park.

The police report indicates that the bicyclist declined medical attention.

Following the bicyclist's report to police, an officer visited the residence where the vehicle had parked. The officer took photos of a dent and minor scratches on the rear panel of the passenger side of the car. 

Upon speaking to the family at the residence, the officer identified the driver in the incident as a male resident of that household. Police note that the man admitted to driving on Winter Street at the time of the accident. Police cited the driver with a criminal citation for leaving the scene of an accident after a personal injury and for improper turning.

This accident is the third in under three weeks that has involved bicycle and vehicle collisions in Westwood. Westwood Minute previously reported that on October 6th, there were two accidents involving bicyclists who each required hospital visits after coming into contact with vehicles on Gay Street and Pond Street.  

Police have provided an update on one of those October 6th incidents where a landscaper's truck left the scene after sideswiping a bicyclist on Pond Street. The landscaping company which owns the vehicle has been identified, says Westwood Police Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy. The operator of the truck who drove away from the scene without stopping has asserted having no knowledge of contacting the bicyclist and apparently did not realize the bicyclist was injured in that event, says Lt. Sheehy. 

On October 24, 2022, the day following the latest incident of a vehicle and bicycle colliding in Westwood, the town's Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Committee scheduled a meeting for Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 7:30 in the Westwood Public Library. On the agenda is a discussion regarding the recent bicycle accidents.

Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy, the Westwood Police Department, and David Atkins of the Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Committee for contributing information for this article.

Updated 10/26/2022 at 10:20 a.m. Information about the October 27th Westwood Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Committee meeting has been added. 9:46 a.m. This article previously stated that injuries to bicyclists occurred in all three bike-vehicle accidents. However, because medical attention was declined in the October 23rd incident, it is unclear whether and to what extent injuries resulted. Edits have been made to be consistent with the reported facts.

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