Sixty-nine-year-old Paula Sharaga, of Cambridge, was killed when she was struck by a cement truck in Boston on Friday afternoon.
A female bicyclist was killed when she was struck by a cement truck in Boston on Friday afternoon.
Officials identified the victim as 69-year-old Paula Sharaga, of Cambridge.
Sharaga's husband didn't want to speak on camera Friday but told NBC10 Boston that his wife was a peace activist, a librarian for 20 years and very loved in the community.
Massachusetts State Police responded to the accident on Brookline Avenue at Park Drive around 1:45 p.m.
Authorities say Trooper Keith Deshler, who was working a road detail nearby, was the first to respond to the scene, where he found two people performing CPR on Sharaga.
A third person approached and identified himself as a trauma physician before requesting a ventilation bag, which Trooper Deshler was able to provide from his medical kit, and used it in an attempt to administer aid.
Sharaga was then taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The driver of the cement truck, who has been identified only as a 67-year-old Salem man, was taken to Beth Israel Hospital for an evaluation.
Authorities say a preliminary investigation shows the cement truck, which had Boston Sand & Gravel Co. branding on it, was stopped at a traffic light on Brookline Avenue. When the light turned green, the truck started to move forward. Sharaga was riding her bike in the intersection and came into contact with the front end of the truck.
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“It’s completely tragic and unnecessary," said David Read with the Boston Cyclists Union. "We’ve talked about this intersection for years, and it could be greatly improved."
The Boston Cyclists Union says in the last seven years that 12 of the 18 cyclist fatalities in Boston and Cambridge have involved trucks.
“We need more protected bike lanes," Read said. "We need to protect cyclists especially from trucks.”
The crash remains under investigation, including the sequence of events leading up to the fatal collision.
No charges have been filed at this time. Police say the investigation will determine whether charges are warranted.
Two inbound lanes of Park Drive were closed for the rescue response and investigation.
State Police were assisted on scene by Boston Fire and EMS and DCR roadway maintenance crews.
