INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD is investigating a deadly crash involving a bicyclist that happened Tuesday morning on the city's near southwest side.
Police responded to a report of a crash on South Harding Street, near West Raymond Street, shortly after 6:30 a.m. Dec. 5.
IMPD confirmed a man riding a bike was fatally struck by a cement truck.
Drivers and pedestrians were asked to avoid the area as traffic was impacted in the area for several hours.
According to IMPD, six bicyclists and 34 pedestrians have been killed in crashes in the city so far in 2023. Three of those fatalities happened in the last week.
Businesses in that area tell 13News the street is industrial, and speeding is an issue.
“It’s a shame this traffic is going fast all the time and the tri-axels, the dump trucks, the trash trucks, the semis...all of them are always at a high rate of speed,” said Buddy Curry, general manager of All American Auto Fleet. “There are wrecks here all the time.”
Back in June 2021, another bicyclist was killed nearby at Raymond and Harding streets.
Advocates pushed for safety changes then, since the intersection is close to the Eagle Creek Greenway. Those advocates said they’re still waiting.
13News reached out to the district’s councilor and city leaders but did not hear back Tuesday.
Advocates said the number of people hit this year drives home the need for change.
According to Indy Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Crisis group, there have been more than 625 reports of someone being hit by a car in 2023.
Statement from Indy Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Crisis:
“This morning’s death of a person riding their bicycle on the southwest side of Indianapolis is another grim reminder of how dangerous our roads have become for those attempting to navigate our city on foot or by bike. This crisis continues to worsen, yet city leaders are still not treating it with the urgency it demands. We once again call on the Indianapolis City-County Council to immediately begin work on a Vision Zero plan for Indianapolis, including funding for rapid response traffic calming and pedestrian/bicyclist safety efforts.”