Bicyclist killed on Charleston Boulevard identified

Published Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 4:50 p.m.

Updated Friday, June 12, 2009 | 10:12 a.m.

Accident location

Metro Police are investigating the death of a bicyclist after a collision with a vehicle Thursday afternoon on Charleston Boulevard near University Medical Center.

The Clark County Coroner's Office has identified the man as 49-year-old Timothy Robert Mortenson of Las Vegas. An official cause and manner of death is pending, a coroner's spokeswoman said.

The crash occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday as Mortenson was traveling east on West Charleston Boulevard west of Westwood Drive, said Officer Barbara Morgan, a Metro Police spokeswoman.

Metro's fatal accident detail went to the scene to investigate the death, Morgan said. Initial reports said the bicyclist was a man.

The driver of the vehicle that struck the bicyclist remained at the scene, Morgan said.

Police identified the driver as 54-year-old Jose Quintanilla of Henderson, who was driving a 2005 Ford F-250 pickup truck.

From evidence at the scene and witness accounts, police said that both the pickup and the bicyle were trying to make right turns from northbound Westwood to East Charleston Boulevard.

When the bicyclist tried to turn, the pickup's height blocked the driver's view and the left front of the truck struck the bicyclist.

The bicyclist was taken to University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time after he arrived. It is believed that an improper right turn by the bicyclist caused the collision, police said.

The collision remains under investigation. This is the 38th fatal traffic collision in Metro Police jurisdiction this year.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

By exasperated

6/12/09 at 1:21 p.m.

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My condolences go out to Tim Mortenson's family. The Las Vegas streets are so dangerous for bike riders, especially those who are commuting. And kudos to the pick-up driver for waiting for police to arrive--there should be more conscientious drivers like Mr. Quintanilla. I'm sorry he had to experience such a traumatic event.
By OpusthePoet

6/13/09 at 11:38 a.m.

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OK I'm not understanding this one. The cyclist and the truck driver were both making right turns onto the same street. The left front corner of the truck hits the cyclist. How is the cyclist at fault for getting hit from behind? Can someone that knows the rules of the road in NV please explain this one to me? How is it that when a car hits a car from behind the car that was behind is at fault for not allowing enough following distance but if a bicycle is in front the bicycle is at fault? Since the truck was raised too high to see a bicycle in front of him shouldn't there be an equipment violation to go with the moving violation of having hit a slower vehicle in front of him?

Like I said this just doesn't make any sense.