ASU student dies in collision on University

ASU student Christopher Volpe, 24, was killed Monday 5/10/2010 when he collided with an SUV. According to police, the driver of the SUV was not at fault. No impairment is suspected. According to this news account: “Police tell 3TV the man was in the eastbound lane of University near Ash”.

According to the ABC15 account: “Police Sgt. Steve Carbajal said 24-year-old Christopher Volpe was apparently traveling west on University Drive when he turned left in front of oncoming traffic and was struck by an SUV.”

I did get some clarification from Molly Enright, Community Affairs Specialist at the Tempe Police Department — the correct information is as Sgt. Carbajal said. [The ADOT crash database, however, indicates both units were going straight ahead on perpendicular paths, and that the cyclist disregarded a signal. Directions given: West/driver (University Ave), South/cyclist (Ash St). I do not have the crash report]

The turning left in front of the SUV doesn’t seem to add up; given the location of the pictured damage. From the picture, it appears the cyclist t-boned into the middle of the passenger side of the SUV.

So I am still confused? [it’s also inconsistent with FARS crash type, below which claimed a “same direction” left-turn error, and nothing about disregarding a signal. hmm.]

And by the way, as the commenter pointed out, below, southbound Ash vehicular traffic must turn at University — though it’s not clear if that has anything to do with it.

A couple of the accounts say that “Police have determined that he (the driver) was not at fault” — that was fast.

In the wake of this tragedy, Tempe’s First Ghost Bike was placed. [azrepublic] story on the ghost bike installation.

2010 Arizona cyclist fatality grid

[azrepublic] [azfamily/3TV][evtrib][abc15]

Crash Reports ASDM / FARS

This is ADOT incident 2414578. Summary of ADOT database entries: Fatal collision at a signalled intersection. Both units are GOING_STRAIGHT_AHEAD in perpendicular directions. The driver has NO_IMPROPER_ACTION with “contributing cirumstance”: GLARE_SUNLIGHT.
The cyclist has his position given as “CROSSWALK”, and is faulted for DISREGARD_TRAFFIC_SIGNAL. The driver suposedly has damage to his FRONT_RIGHT, with his GOLD, FORD, PASSENGER_4DSW_STATION_WAGON_4_DR given as disabled, but I’m not confident that data was applied to the correct unit.

Supposedly, the driver tests positive for cocaine, and the cyclist positive for marijuana, but (again) I don’t have confidence in the proper application of these data.
[TODO: check FARS database for drug test result]

This is FARS case 40292, see see below for PBCAT