Morrison County, MN — October 22, 2024, Cyrilla Michael was killed in a truck accident at about 11:20 a.m. on 120th Avenue south of Bowlus.
Authorities said a semi-truck was driving south when it hit a bicycle that was crossing the road on the Soo-Line Trail, which covers 27 miles in Morrison County.
Bicyclist Cyrilla Michael, 79, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this point.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Crashes involving semi-trucks and bicyclists are especially complex because they often come down to issues of visibility, right-of-way and reaction time. In this case, the reports state that the bicyclist was crossing the road when the semi-truck hit them, but that alone doesn’t explain why the crash happened. Getting to the truth requires looking beyond the crash scene.
One key issue is whether the truck driver saw the bicyclist in time to react. Large trucks have significant blind spots, especially on the right side and directly in front of the cab. If the bicyclist was in one of these areas, the driver may not have had a clear view. That raises the question: was the driver properly scanning for potential hazards? Investigators should check for dashcam footage, witness statements and any available traffic cameras to determine what the driver could or should have seen.
Another factor is speed. Was the truck traveling at a speed that allowed the driver to react appropriately? The engine control module (ECM) data can show how fast the truck was moving, whether the driver applied the brakes, and if he made any evasive maneuvers. This information is crucial in understanding whether the driver had time to avoid the collision.
Right-of-way is another important issue. The Soo-Line Trail crosses the road where the crash happened, which means there should be signs, signals or markings indicating who had the right-of-way. If the truck driver had a stop sign or a yield requirement, failing to follow it would be a major issue. On the other hand, if the bicyclist had a stop sign but entered the roadway anyway, that could explain part of the crash. Investigators need to determine what traffic controls were in place and whether either party ignored them.
At this point, there are more questions than answers. But one thing is clear: if authorities don’t go beyond the crash scene to gather all available evidence, critical details could be missed. Holding the right people accountable requires looking at visibility, speed, reaction time and right-of-way, not just where the vehicles ended up after impact.
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