SALEM, Essex County, Mass., Sept. 20, 2026 — A bicyclist was critically injured Friday evening, September 18, after being struck by a vehicle at the intersection of North Street and Lynde Street in Salem, Massachusetts.
The police reportedly responded to the intersection at about 7:20 p.m. A 59-year-old man riding a bicycle was taken to Salem Hospital and later transferred to a hospital in the Boston area for further treatment. He remains in critical condition, according to officials.
The driver, a 79-year-old, stayed at the scene and cooperated with responding officers. No charges have been announced.
The crash is under investigation by the Salem Police Department's Criminal Investigative Division along with the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. The Salem Fire Department, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Section, and Atlantic Ambulance also assisted at the scene. No further details have been released.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
Where Bicycle Crashes With Vehicles Tend to Concentrate
Bicycle crashes cluster at ordinary intersections more than on open roads. A driver turning right or left across a bike lane, or pulling out from a side street, usually has only a second or two to spot a rider before their paths cross. Unsignalled or poorly lit intersections make that window even shorter.
Older downtown grids, like the kind found in many New England city centers, add another layer. Streets laid out long before cars existed usually meet at odd angles, with parked cars and buildings blocking sightlines right up to the corner. Riders and drivers can each believe they have the right of way at the same moment.
Wide urban arterials cause a different problem: higher speeds combined with multiple lanes give drivers less time to react even when a cyclist is clearly visible. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedalcyclist fatalities accounted for 2.9 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2023. Investigators looking at crashes like this one typically examine sightlines, signal timing, and each party's speed and position in the moments before impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a cyclist do after being hit by a car?
Call 911 even if injuries seem minor, since some, like head or internal injuries, aren't obvious right away. Stay at the scene, get the driver's information and contact info for any witnesses, and seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible.
Do cyclists have the same rights on the road as drivers?
In Massachusetts and most states, cyclists are generally entitled to the same rights and subject to the same rules as other vehicle operators, including the right of way at intersections when it's their turn.
Are intersections a common site for bicycle crashes?
Yes. A large share of bicycle-vehicle crashes happen at intersections or driveways, frequently during turning movements, because drivers and cyclists frequently misjudge each other's speed or fail to see one another in time.
What injuries are common in bicycle-vehicle crashes?
Cyclists struck by vehicles sometimes suffer fractures, road rash, and head or spinal injuries, since they have little protection compared to someone inside a car. Helmets reduce but don't eliminate the risk of serious head injury.
What to Do After a Bicycle Crash in Salem, MA
If you're involved in a bicycle crash in Salem, get medical attention right away, even if you feel able to walk or move around. Adrenaline can mask pain from fractures or internal injuries for hours.
Report the crash to local police so there's an official record, and try to note details while they're fresh: where you were riding, the traffic signals or signs at the scene, and anything the driver said. If you're able, take photos of the vehicles, the road, and any visible injuries before things are moved or cleaned up.
Follow up with your doctor in the days after, since some injuries, especially concussions or soft-tissue damage, take time to fully show themselves.
