A Boston University student was hit by a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus in front of the Fitness and Recreation Center yesterday, making him at least the second student involved in a cycling accident in two days, BU Police Department officials said.
The 18-year-old man was cycling outbound in the outermost lane of Commonwealth Avenue, where there are no bikes lanes, when the bus struck him from behind at around 3 p.m., BUPD Sgt. Jeffrey Burke said.
"He was hit by the front right side of the MBTA bus," Burke said. "He was complaining of back pain."
The ambulance took the victim to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Burke said. The Boston Police Department will be investigating the accident with the MBTA Transit Police.
Burke said an ambulance, a fire truck and police officers responded to the scene.
College of Arts and Sciences senior Chris Mendes said the cyclist was on the ground toward the back end of the bus when he arrived on the scene.
"I heard noises as I was leaving the FitRec," Mendes said. "It sounded like something was breaking. He was on the ground, but he was moving.
"At least three people went to see if he was okay, and then he was moving a little bit, but he didn't get up," he said. "I don't think he got up at all."
Though he did not see the actual collision, Mendes said there was one ambulance and "a lot of cops" on the scene for about an hour after the accident.
MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo contradicted BUPD's initial statement.
"The bicyclist struck the side of the bus after colliding with another bicyclist," he said in an email.
The accident took place in a section of Commonwealth Avenue where there are no bike lanes. The bike lanes on Commonwealth Avenue run from Kenmore Square until the BU Bridge.
A student was hit by a gray 2007 BMW at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and University Road Tuesday morning. Burke said, cyclists should "adhere to the rules of the road" to avoid future accidents.
"Go with the flow of traffic, not against it," he said. "Be aware of the motor vehicles in the area."
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