HOLYOKE — A 50-year old man was critically injured Thursday morning after his bicycle ended up beneath a dump truck in a crash at the intersection of Appleton and Bower streets, according to the Holyoke Fire Department.
The Holyoke Fire Department responded the scene at 10:30 a.m. and firefighters said the man riding the bicycle had to be extricated from underneath the truck.
“Forklifts from Sullivan Metals were used to lift the rear wheels of the truck to assist in the extrication,” Fire Capt. Kevin Cavagnac said in a statement.
The bicyclist was transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield in critical condition, Cavagnac said. He said the man was awake and conscious when he was transported to the hospital. Cavagnac said he could not comment on the specifics of the crash.
The Holyoke Police Department and the State Police Truck unit are investigating the incident. People are being asked to avoid the area as Appleton Street will be closed to through traffic from Bowers to Main streets.
Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.