It was the screams people heard Monday morning that alerted them something was wrong.
"When I came out of the house there was a lot of police action down there, a bunch of cars, and they had the street blocked off," said John Latham.
By the time our cameras got to the scene, spray paint on the pavement was the only reminder of the deadly wreck.
Cyclist Irene Szczesniak was with a friend biking down Central Avenue in Glen Burnie around 7:30AM. At that same time, Anne Arundel County Police tell us a Bates Trucking garbage truck was out picking-up trash in the area. The truck started to turn down an alley, when something went horribly wrong.
"I think the driver thinks that he saw her, and she was gonna wait, I think the bicyclist saw him and thought he was going to wait,” said Lt. Ryan Frashure with theAnne Arundel County Police Department. “So I think we have a mix-up in communication, and that's what ultimately led to this fatal accident and unfortunate accident."
The 60-year-old Crofton woman was trapped under the trash truck. She died from her injuries.
People who knew Szczesniak tell us she was active and energetic, very hard working and gave her time to charitable events.
"It's a horrible tragedy,” said Anthony Rush.
Bicyclists who frequent the nearby B&A Trail say it's sad, but situations like this are a strong reminder that they need to be cautious when riding.
"You take a chance every time you ride on the street, no matter what," Nick Lipman said.
"Some people just don't care about cyclists,” Rush said. “You know that three-foot rule that they're supposed to follow, they don't."
"When I’m riding my bicycle, even if I have the right of way, I still yield to the automobiles,” Kenny Lipman said. “It's safer that way."
Officers say the 24-year-old driver of the trash truck, and the two people riding with him, all stayed on the scene after the crash. They've been identified as Jason Manly from Silver Spring, 28-year-old Kendrick Hasty from Baltimore, and 30-year-old Quilver Interiano from Laurel.
ABC 2 News reached out to Bates Trucking, but so far they have not commented or answered any of our questions.
No charges have been filed, and the crash is under investigation.
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