DC Bicyclist Killed in Collision With Military Vehicle

A DC bicyclist, 68-year old Constance Holden of Mount Pleasant, was tragically killed April 12 when the bicycle she was riding collided with a "military vehicle" working the security detail at the nculear summit talks being held in Washington, DC this week.  The DC Police gave their usual "the accident is under investigation" explanation as to what happened more than a day after it occured, but did offer up that the miliyary vehicle was "moving forward" at the time of the accdient to block the intersection for a police motorcycle procession headed to the conference - presumably with a dignitary.  While we don't yet have any eye witness accounts of exactly what happened, those cyclists who commute regularly in DC know what "pullng forward means."  The truck obviously "pulled forward" directly into the path of Ms. Holden. While we can all appreciate the security challenges faced by the DC Police in protecting foreign dignitaries while on official business here, the fact reians that something like this could have easily been avoided had the driver of the vehicle simply looked both ways.  The fact that the vehicle was there for security purposes doesn't give it carte blanche legal authority to drive negligently, disobey traffic laws and fail to yield to other vehicles, including bicycles.  Ms. Holden was a well-respected and accomplished journalist for the Journal Science, and her tragic death underscores the dangers that commuting cyclists face in the District every day.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and freinds.