Bicyclist Dies After Crash at Central and Addison in Portage Park

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The Central and Addison intersection, from the cyclist's point of view.

A 33-year-old bicyclist died early this morning from injuries sustained in a crash Monday afternoon in the Portage Park neighborhood, according to Officer Jose Estrada from Police News Affairs.

The cyclist, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office as Rafael Ramirez of the 7200 block of West Diversey in Elmwood Park, was riding a GMC Denali road bike northbound on Central Avenue around 2:15 p.m. Monday. Several witnessed reported that Ramirez then attempted to turn left on Addison Street and "sideswiped" the driver of a westbound 1999 Saturn who had the right of way, Estrada said.

The intersection is signalized, with a left-turn lane and left-turn signal on northbound Central. It appears Ramirez was trying to make a left on red. After the collision, the cyclist fell off his bike and suffered a head injury, Estrada said. The motorist stayed at the scene and was not ticketed.

The cyclist was first brought to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, which is adjacent to the crash site, but was later taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. He died at 2 a.m. this morning. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Fatality Tracker: 2013 Chicago pedestrian and bicyclist deaths

Pedestrian: 11 (10 were from hit-and-run crashes, 2 in truck crashes)
Bicyclist: 3