Los Alamos Police Department officers investigate the scene of a crash March 10 on Diamond Drive at 35th Street. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Los Alamos Police Department has filed two citations and a summons request in Los Alamos Municipal Court in connection with a March 10 crash on Diamond Drive at 35th Street involving a cyclist and a pick-up truck.
LAPD Cmdr. Oliver Morris said Friday that the driver of the truck, Brian Jean, is being cited for careless driving as well as turning and stopping movements and required signals.
Cmdr. Morris said LAPD has significantly stepped up traffic enforcement since the incident.
“We want to remind motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to exercise caution and follow traffic laws to the best of their ability,” he said.
An LAPD incident report obtained by the Los Alamos Reporter indicates that Cpl. Brandon Archuleta responded to the crash and found the cyclist lying face up in the roadway with an apparent injury to his head and shoulder area. Archuleta said the cyclist had no recollection of what happened.
The 50-year old cyclist was transported to Los Alamos Medical Center by Los Alamos Fire Department and was later taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Santa Fe for treatment of multiple injuries. He remained hospitalized for two weeks.
Cpl. Archuleta’s report said the driver of the truck told him he was driving northbound on Diamond Drive and was making a right turn onto 35th Street when he heard and felt something collide with his vehicle. Archuleta stated that the driver said he looked into his passenger side mirror and noticed the cyclist on the ground injured and that the driver said he never saw the cyclist on the road until after the crash.
The LAPD crash team was called out to complete a diagram of the scene. The investigation of the crash was completed Friday, Morris said.