Truck driver in crash that killed Rolling Meadows bicyclist ticketed

A 20-year-old bicyclist from Rolling Meadows died Tuesday morning after being hit by a semitrailer truck in Chicago's Noble Square neighborhood.

Lisa Kuivinen was riding about 8 a.m. in a bike lane near the intersection of Milwaukee and Racine avenues and hit by the truck, police said.

Both Kuivinen and the 37-year-old man driving the semitrailer truck were traveling south when the truck driver turned from the traffic lane into the bicycle lane, striking Kuivinen, Chicago police officer Thomas Sweeney said.

Police arrived on the scene at 8:15 a.m. and Kuivinen was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Kuivinen was pronounced dead at 8:39 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner.

The truck driver was issued a citation for driving in the bike lane and another citation for failure to take due care of a bicyclist in the roadway, Sweeney said. Chicago police have not yet released the truck driver's name. He has a Sept. 15 traffic court date in Daley Plaza, police said.

Kuivinen was a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago studying in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, school spokeswoman Bree Witt said in an email Tuesday.

“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic loss of a member of the SAIC family,” Witt said. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to Lisa's family and friends during this very difficult time.”

Counseling services have been made available for students, faculty and staff members, Witt said.

Chicago police said the driver of the semi remained on the scene after the accident.

Hundreds of bicyclists make the commute downtown via Milwaukee Avenue every day. Some areas of the bike lane are protected by concrete barriers, and the lane near Racine Street is green to distinguish it from vehicle lanes.