NORTHAMPTON — A 61-year-old Northampton man was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield with serious injuries after he was struck by a Toyota SUV while riding his bicycle north on Easthampton Road Monday evening.
Northampton police and firefighters responded to the area of 234 Easthampton Road, which runs parallel to a bike trail, at about 6:20 p.m. following reports that the cyclist was struck. According to Northampton police Capt. Corey Robinson, both the SUV and the cyclist appeared to be traveling north when the cyclist cut in front of the SUV and was struck.
“We believe the bicyclist was potentially trying to cut across the roadway to enter the bike trail,” Robinson said. “The bicyclist sustained some pretty serious injuries, including some broken bones. He was transported to Baystate, where he is currently being treated.”
Although the crash remains under investigation, Robinson said police do not suspect the 58-year-old woman behind the wheel of the SUV was intoxicated or speeding.
Robinson added that the cyclist was wearing a helmet and, as of Tuesday morning was believed to be in stable condition.
“It appears the driver saw the bicyclist and made an effort to go around the bicyclist to give them a safe distance,” Robinson explained. “The bicyclist, for some reason, decided that that was the moment he was going to cut across the road and didn’t realize the car was behind him, and cut right in front of the motor vehicle.”
The collision prompted the closure of Easthampton Road late Monday night.
