Person on Bike in Collision on Chemeketa Last Night

Last night there was a brief note about a collision at Cottage and Chemeketa. This is right by the Ike Box and YMCA, and on the Chemeketa bikeway. 

Pedestrian hit by car at corner of Cottage and Chemeketa. Police, fire attending. #SJNow twitter.com/fosmirel/statu…
— Laura Fosmire (@fosmirel) November 29, 2012

The SJ story was updated to reflect that the person hit was on bike, not on foot:

Traffic was blocked for a short while in downtown Salem Wednesday evening when a vehicle struck a bicyclist at the intersection of Cottage and Chemeketa Streets NE.

Salem Police Sgt. Jon Hardy said the bicyclist was not wearing her helmet. She was transported to Salem Hospital, although the extent of her injuries are unknown at this time.

Hardy said it was unclear after initial investigation who had the right of way in the incident and so police did not immediately issue a traffic citation.

Hardy said Salem Police would not be releasing the bicyclist or the driver's names at this time.

(Not updated was whether the autoist was wearing a helmet, using a seatbelt, or deployed airbags!)

With the action on the southeast corner of the intersection, it looks like a turning movement and hook from Chemeketa onto Cottage might have been involved.  The confusion whether the person was on foot or on bike could also indicate a person on bike was operating in the crosswalk rather than on the roadway.

Lots of questions and uncertainty.  Hopefully the person struck was not injured severely and will recover speedily.  And hopefully we will learn more, as this is a key connection for people who bike.  

Update 1, Thursday

In a separate crash:

A bicyclist was taken to the hospital with a head injury after a collision with a vehicle early this morning, according to Salem police Lt. Dave Okada.

Eddie Felix, 60, of Tualatin was driving south on 23rd Street NE and Michael Burke, 42, of Salem was riding his bike west on Center Street NE when the two collided about 7 a.m. Okada said the crash is under investigation and it is unknown who was at fault.

Felix was cited for driving without a driver’s license, Okada said.

Update 2, Friday the 30th

This is yet a different crash, the second on Cottage this week:

An accident between a vehicle and bicycle closed the intersection of Cottage St. NE and D St. NE, according to dispatch.

The accident occurred just before 5 p.m. Salem Fire and Police Departments are on the scene. An official at dispatch was unsure of when the intersection would be reopened.