The Victim
This was the scene that Culver City bicyclist Diane Kelley wheeled into at 10 oclock last Thursday morning.
At 47 years old, in the prime of her life, Ms. Kelley was a wisp of a woman, 4-foot-11, 82 pounds.
Pedaling northbound on Sawtelle from the south end where she lived, Ms. Kelley crossed the Braddock Drive intersection, which construction work and the accompanying large machinery have made busier and less passable than usual.
The Next Turn
After wheeling across Braddock, she followed the slender, curving roadway beneath the overpass, midway to Culver Boulevard.
Approaching the traffic light, Ms. Kelley did everything right, according to the police report. She inserted herself near the right-side curb, as a cyclist is to do in (frequently thick) vehicular traffic.
On her immediate left was a private businesss cement truck, running at the moment without a load.
Different Directions
The truck driver intended to turn right, onto Culver. Ms. Kelley, far below and apparently invisible to the truck driver, intended to continue northward through the intersection.
She was struck with the full brunt of the truck when it swung eastward. Following an autopsy, the County Coroners office said Ms. Kelley suffered multiple injuries, massive blunt force injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Next of Kin
Police interviewed the truck driver at the scene. They concluded that he did not see Ms. Kelley, and he was not detained.
Ms. Kelleys brother in Gig Harbor, in Northern California, was notified of his sisters tragedy.
