An investigation is underway after a cyclist crashed into the side of an unmarked D.C. police cruiser in Columbia Heights early Saturday morning.
The fatal crash took place at the intersection of Columbia Road and 13th Street, just after 4:15 a.m.
According to D.C. police, the unmarked cruiser was driving westbound on Columbia Road, heading through the intersection during a green light.
Rather than stopping at their red light, the cyclist -- who police said was riding a "motorized bike" -- sped through the intersection and hit the side of the cruiser.
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Hours after the crash took place, debris from the car and the bike was still visible in the gutter along the street. Pieces of metal and plastic sat in the intersection near the sidewalk.
The D.C. police member inside the car immediately started performing first aid, and called emergency first responders, D.C. police said.
D.C. Fire and EMS responded to the call and also attempted lifesaving measures, but they were unsuccessful. The cyclist died at the scene of the crash.
The cruiser ended up crashing into a fence.
The D.C. police member in the cruiser was not responding to a call at the time and did not have emergency equipment with them. The flashing lights and sirens were not activated.
There is no bodycam footage of the crash or the first aid, but there is a nearby ShotSpotter camera that police are examining for evidence.
The D.C. police member has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard policy for the department after such incidents.
The identities of the MPD member and the motorized bike operator have yet to be publicly released.
There are more modes of two-wheeled transportation on local roads than ever before, motorized and not motorized.
“There's a problem with a large misconception, I think, that exists in the community about how mopeds and scooters and how they are supposed to be operated,” said Special Operations Capt. Daniel Harrington with the Metropolitan Police Department.
Harrington spoke to news4 this past summer about a scooter and moped initiative aimed at safety on the road.
“Just like a car, they gotta stop at stop signs and stop lights, they can’t operate on the sidewalk, they can’t ride in bike lanes,” he said.
