Cyclist hit near BU Bridge

A Boston University student was hit by a car while he was riding his bicycle at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and University Road Tuesday morning, witnesses said.

The 21-year-old man was traveling east on Commonwealth Avenue when he made a left turn in front of a BMW, BU Police Department Sgt. Jeffrey Burke said.

BUPD officer Peter McCarron was first to respond to the call two minutes later, and one motorcycle, three police cruisers, at least one fire truck and one ambulance followed, Burke said.

The victim, who was still conscious, but suffered a head wound, was taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital, Burke said.

Witnesses and the driver of the gray 2007 BMW said the driver had a green light, Burke said.

Witnesses wasted no time calling 911, and emergency vehicles arrived on the scene "fairly quickly," College of Communication sophomore Malia Rose said.

"I was walking down Commonwealth Avenue and right at the crosswalk before the George Sherman Union there started to be a commotion," Rose said. "I looked and there was a guy lying across the street twitching and his bike was to the side of him."

The victim was riding with a friend who appeared "visibly shaken," but unharmed after the accident, Rose said.

"He was in the middle of the street, close to the T tracks, and people were rushing over to help," she said. "His friend on a bike came back from across the street and had to sit down and compose himself."