Friday, September 9, 2016

BICYCLIST DEATHS OR INJURIES ON THE RISE: a Texas A&M student riding her bike was hit and killed Thursday morning by a city garbage truck near the Texas A&M campus



 
College Station police say a Texas A&M student was hit and killed Thursday morning by a city garbage truck near the Texas A&M campus. (KTRK)

Updated 2 hrs 20 mins ago
COLLEGE STATION, TX (KTRK) -- College Station police say a Texas A&M student was hit and killed Thursday morning by a city garbage truck near the Texas A&M campus.

Investigators say 21-year-old Alannah Rose Ritch was riding her bike when she was hit by a College Station garbage truck.

Police say Ritch was riding her bicycle when the garbage truck struck and ran over her. She died from her injuries at the scene of the accident.

KBTX reports that witnesses say the truck's driver was visibly distraught.


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By KBTX Staff |
Posted: Thu 5:19 PM, Sep 08, 2016 |
Updated: Thu 7:49 PM, Sep 08, 2016


COLLEGE STATION, Tex. (KBTX) - Police have identified the woman who died while riding her bike Thursday morning.



Investigators say 21-year-old Alannah Rose Ritch died after she was hit by a College Station garbage truck. Ritch was from San Marcos.

The accident happened in the Southside Neighorhood not far from the Texas A&M Campus.

It's still unclear exactly what happened.

Crime scene tape and police cars covered the corners of Ayrshire Street and Angus Avenue after a woman on a bicycle was hit and killed by this garbage truck.

"We're hoping and praying that it's not someone we know or a friend of a friend or anything like that," said Chris Beavers, a Texas A&M Student.

Chris Beavers just moved into the neighborhood for classes at Texas A&M and saw first responders arrive at the scene next to his house.

"I walked outside and everyone was just starting to get to the scene and he said, 'Don't look to your right,' and I looked to my right saw her right there," said Beavers.

He also saw the garbage truck driver.

"He was very, very shaken," said Beavers.


City officials tell us they're unaware of a situation like this ever happening before. Here at the scene we could see that some of the tires have been removed from the garbage truck as investigators took a closer look at it.

"Our College Station Police Department Crime Scene Unit and our Traffic Division have come out to conduct the investigation. It is very early in that investigation and we don't have the details of how the accident occurred," said Lt. Steve Brock of the College Station Police Department.

"We were deeply saddened by this tragic event involving one of our sanitation drivers. Our sincerest and heartfelt condolences and prayers go with the family and all those involved in this tragedy. P.D. is doing a very thorough and complete investigation and will have more details at a later date," said Chuck Gilman, College Station Deputy City Manager.

Nearby neighbors were also stunned.

"Not something you would expect you know. You see stuff like this happen in the world but you don't expect it to happen a few hundred feet from your house so pretty disturbing," said Bert McJunkin, a Texas A&M Student.

"Whoever it is no matter whoever it is they're in our thoughts and prayers," said Nolan Bell a College Station Resident.

City officials tell us us the driver is very experienced. They tell us all of their drivers have a commercial driver license and undergo extensive on-the-job training.

5:10 P.M. UPDATE: College Station police have identified the woman who was hit and killed Thursday morning by a city garbage truck.

21-year-old Alannah Rose Ritch was killed while riding her bike on Ayshire Street around 11:00 a.m. She was a student at Texas A&M University and a resident of San Marcos.

The case is still under investigation.

ORIGINAL STORY:

College Station police say a woman was hit and killed Thursday morning by a city garbage truck in a neighborhood near the Texas A&M campus.

The accident happened in the 300 block of Ayrshire Street near W. Dexter Drive around 11:00 a.m.

Officers are investigating the scene and are asking drivers to avoid the intersection of Aryshire and Angus.

The victim's age and name is not being released until her family is notified. She was on a bicycle, according to police.

News 3 has a crew attempting to gather more information. We'll update this story as new details become available.

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Statement from the City of College Station and Deputy City Manager Chuck Gilman:

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident involving one of our sanitation trucks this morning and offer our sincerest condolences and prayers to the family of the young woman who passed away. The College Station Police Department is conducting a thorough and objective investigation to determine exactly how this accident occurred."