As the end of summer approaches many people are still riding their bikes to school and work. You always have to be keenly aware of bike riders, but especially during busy rush hour. A bicyclist suffered serious injuries Thursday morning after colliding with a vehicle in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Preliminary reports for the accident reveal that at approximately 7:30 AM a bicyclist crashed through a window of a minivan after colliding with the front of the vehicle. The bicyclist was taken via medical helicopter to a nearby hospital following the accident.
Reports have indicated that the bicyclist has been identified as 38 year old Stephen Rogan who currently resides at 36 Howard Street in Bridgewater. Rogan had been riding his bike along the intersection of Pearl Street and Perkins Street when he collided with the front of a Dodge Caravan. Upon impact, Stephen Rogan crashed through a window of the vehicle and ended up somewhere inside the Caravan. According to Bridgewater Fire Lieutenant Bob Mancinelli, Rogan sustained head and facial injuries as a result of the collision. The severity of these injuries was not made immediately available.
The driver of the Dodge Caravan has been identified as 50 year old Michael Lee of Wedowee, Alabama. Lee was not injured as a result of the collision. Initial reports indicate that Lee had been stopped at a Stop sign on Perkins Street. Rogan had attempted to take a turn from Pearl Street onto Perkins Street when he collided with Michael Lee’s Caravan. Reports have not indicated whether or not Rogan possibly lost control of his bike or simply didn’t see Lee at the Stop sign. The exact circumstances surrounding the collision are currently under investigation by the Bridgewater Police Department as well as Plymouth County BCI.
Bridgewater Police Lieutenant Thomas Schlatz has said that Stephen Rogan had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Rogan was taken via ambulance to Swenson Field at nearby Bridgewater State University and he was flown via medical helicopter from there to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. An update on his condition was not immediately provided following the collision. Reports from the scene state that blood could be seen on Perkins Street, and that there was visible damage to the Dodge Caravan. The vehicle’s windshield had been broken from the impact, and the driver’s side mirror had become detached and was lying on the ground nearby. Photos released from the scene seem to indicate that Rogan crashed through a side window of the vehicle and not through the windshield as could be presumed from the initial information released regarding the accident.
Police Lieutenant Schlatz has also stated that no charges have been filed against Michael Lee at this time, as responding officers and representatives from the Plymouth County BCI are actively investigating the accident in an effort to gain more information. Further information regarding the accident and the events leading up to the collision are expected to be released in the upcoming days to follow. Plymouth County BCI was seen investigating the scene of the accident on Thursday in the hours after the crash occurred.
Additional quotes and information may be found at the following links:
http://www.wcvb.com/news/bicyclist-flown-to-hospital-after-being-hit-by-minivan/35320566
http://bridgewater.wickedlocal.com/article/20150917/NEWS/150916538