State Police in yellow center, Amherst College PD left, APD right. Large truck top of hill (with MSP looking under) was involved
A truck vs bicycle accident occurred late Sunday afternoon around 4:15 p.m. at the East Drive entrance to Amherst College off College Street (Rt 9) and Dickinson Street killing the cyclist, Livingston Pangburn from Newton, age 22.
At 7:30 p.m. Massachusetts State Police were still on the scene performing an accident reconstruction investigation.
APD photographing the scene (helmet and pool of blood behind cruiser)
The mishap was initially called in by Amherst College Police and the first Amherst Police officer on the scene immediately called for a supervisor, who then requested State Police. AFD transported the victim to Baystate Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
31 comments:
A very sad commencement day. I hope it's not a fatality...praying.
Sorry to read this- Thoughts headed out to the cyclist's family, friends and the driver of the truck.
only online "news outlet" with this story
We need Larry to keep ue informed as weekend/ holiday news is nonexistant in our area
That's really sad. I ride a motorcycle and people obviously caution me to be careful, but if you're not surrounded in steel as in a car (motorcyclist, cyclist, or pedestrian), caution is the word. Coming toward that intersection many times I have my hand on the brake and am watching the cars waiting to pull out from Dickinson St. and Amherst College. If I rode a bicycle more I'd be thankful for the bike path between Hamp and Amherst, one of the best uses of tax money I've seen.
Masslive has the news release including the victim's name- Olivia Pangburn from Newton, age 22
Trucks have immense blind spots and just looking at the pictures (and the fact it is wet -- which means raindrops on the mirrors) my guess is that the bicycle was in the truck's blind spot and remained there as the truck turned.
I am not assigning blame for that, let alone determining cause -- only saying that trucks have immense blind spots.
Amherst PD should enforce traffic laws on bicycles. In the PR of Cambridge and PR of Amherst the bikers ride with a level of arrogance unseen.
Let us not forget the laws of physics trump the laws of man.
Taking photos of a fatal accident investigation is highly unethical and inappropriate. Your pictures were posted before it was on the news... a win in your book- however, what if this persons family sees the pics, and recognizes the bicycle. You have just notifed them of a major accident without solid details(at the time) and triggered a whole chain reaction. Do you have the "right" to take photos, to report locally? Yes. Is it always etichial or morally correct that you do it. No. With a sensitive issue such as this, Please think of others who may be affected. Let the system work properly, let the police investigate it, let them get the facts, and let them make notifications.
Also- posting a photo, then writing, "a pool of blood" is that necessary? "a picture says 1000 words" leave it at that. if noone notices, why mention it. The lack of judgement on this one speaks in volume.
Actually I did not (by choice) take a picture of the helmet next to the blood, you nitwit.
That is why I mention it in the body of the story.
Pool of blood was not visible in the photo, therefore no one would be able to notice. Nothing was released on this page that wasn't available to the public already. Police notified immediate family before these photos were taken. Prior to her name being released, the article stated that, according to the police scanner, the accident was probably fatal. Also, from driving by the accident up to four hours later, one could tell that it was probably fatal. Thank you so much for actually delivering real news quickly. Pretty nonexistent in this area.
Taking photos of a fatal accident investigation is highly unethical and inappropriate
No it isn't. No more than mentioning that the victim in a fatal crash was drunk -- at one point, that was never mentioned out of sensitivity to the deceased friends and family. Now we recognize the greater good in having people know that driving 90 MPH while drunk out of your mind can kill you, as it did kill someone you knew.
I think Larry was quite sensitive on this one -- no (significant) damage to the bicycle, seriously injured but transported to CDH and not directly to the trauma center at BayState -- that alone speaks volumes and I believe he was quite sensitive in saying that her injuries "were likely very serious."
I suspect that he knew exactly what her injuries were - and the likely outcome if not more.
Correct on all points Caitlin.
You're welcome.
So the family might recognize the bicycle? They already have enough to grieve and seeing a photo of a bicycle isn't going to change that. In fact in many cases of loss such as this every bit of information, good or bad actually helps a person grieve better. Good work Larry.
Oh my goodness... she just graduated this year from Hampshire. Sad sad sad. RM
Livingston Pangburn, not Olivia.
This is VERY similar to the accident in Northampton, in which another Hampshire alum, Meg Sanders, was hit and killed by a truck turning into Smith College. I don't know why I ride a bicycle. RM
http://dailycollegian.com/2005/09/26/former-hampshire-college-student-killed-in-truck-accident/
I drove by the accident scene shortly after it happened and there was a middle-aged man sitting on the wall of the driveway looking very upset. I thought, this is weird; everything is taped off, there's a bicycle, and this guy, but he doesn't look injured.
Sorry to hear the whole story...
It wasnt wet ED. Dry as a bone.
Livingston also used male pronouns. Please respect the grieving process of his friends and family and change this to reflect his true self. Thank you.
-a close friend
I've gone to school with Livingston since elementary school. I can't believe this blog is calling him Olivia and using she/her pronouns. Even the official press is being respectful. Ugh.
Actually I was just quoting from the Gazette this morning print edition and Republican Masslive web story last night.
Sorry for your loss.
You offer condolences and yet still use a name he has been fighting for years? That's really gross. Repudlican Masslive had the decency to correct the mistake, do you?
Actually I corrected a minute before responding to you, From my iPhone no less, which I almost never do.
I see. It wasn't showing up here. Possibly cached. I interpreted your comment as attempting to defend the mistake. Sorry. We're all very stressed. Thanks for the correction.
Anon 5:13 pm
This is such a tragedy. Sorry for your loss.
It's sad for her. So young. Hadn't even graduated according to Mass live. Driving a truck is sometimes difficult with blind spots and bicycles. A terrible tragedy. I'd imagine the driver must feel aweful.
Wally, the accident victim was a he. It is very sad for him and his family. My heart goes out to them.
I understand transgender. Regardless a terrible loss.
There are people on here expressing their sadness and offering condolences.
And this is an opportunity to get offended because the proper pronoun wasn't used?
Form over substance.
The loss of a human being, any human being, and the feelings about that loss, even from strangers, are what counts.
Nice coverage, Larry, thanks.
I think that first comment should be deleted because obviously he didn't read the post.
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