Victim identified in deadly bicycle accident on Virginia Tech campus
Published: July 2, 2009
Updated: July 3, 2009
Updated 8:55 p.m.
Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker says the victim is 61-year-old Bonnie Tinker of Portland, OR.
Hincker says the dump truck was hauling dirt from the south side of campus to a construction site near Shultz Dining Hall along Alumni Mall when the accident occurred.
He says Tinker was attending a conference on campus with the Religious Society of Friends, which was using the university’s residential and conference facilities.
The accident remains under investigation.
5:35 p.m.
There’s been a deadly accident on the Virginia Tech campus.
Tech spokesman Larry Hincker tells WSLS that a dump truck hit and killed a woman riding a bicycle on West Campus Drive, near its intersection with Drillfield Drive.
That intersection is closed.
Hincker says the accident happened around 4:30 p.m.
Officers are on the scene interviewing witnesses.
More information as it becomes available.
Reader Reactions
I know I speak for all the Friends (Quakers) at Friends General Conference. We extend our prayers and spirits to the families of Bonnie and to the truck driver. We have also had another serious injury of a young man in a separate accident, in Roanoke hospital, in serious condition. Our prayers go out to all three and to their families. We need to make something positive of this, perhaps open the way for safe bicycling to avoid the tragedies of both lost life and the sadness of the drivers involved in these accidents also.
I’ve been around Tech since ‘91 and the way some people ride their bikes has a lot to be desired. I believe the law goes if your riding a bike on the road you must obey the rules of the road like a car. Not so with some of the students. They think they can shoot across the streets like they were on foot. Bull you sound like your one of them. Who had the right of way?? I don’t understand what you mean by “loomed”. To me that would mean it was just waiting for you. And by the way I also am a truck driver Class A, and people need to realize a truck carrying 10 tons (20,000 lbs) can’t stop on a dime. Give the drivers a break use some common sense. My prayers go out to the families of both the driver and victim.
I am a dump truck driver for william g simmons i was driving at tech today as well with the driver who hit the girl he is avery good driver he takes his time every where he goes and we arent the only company with dump trucks over there hes been driving ell over 20 years but what is more important is somone lost there life and someone lot there daughter god bless them
Dear Bull, if this is true what you say, please contact the Va State Police and give them your contact information in case they wish to have your statement. they aren’t going to be looking for witnesses on this board, but may want to speak to you.
I was nearly taken out by a dump truck on campus today (2 July 2009). I was bicycling on the Huckleberry Trail. It happened at the crossing of the Trail with Tech Center Drive, around 2 pm. I was heading SE. As I entered the intersection the truck loomed, heading south, doing well over the posted 25 mph limit. I made it through, but barely.
If the accident on West Campus is in some way related to my near miss, the police should contact me: flynavy@vt.edu
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