Portland police have ticketed a 39-year-old garbage truck driver who struck and seriously injured a bicyclist in July for careless driving resulting in the injury of a vulnerable road user.

On the morning of July 12, a garbage truck driven by Jason Christopher Amundson hit bicyclist Matthew Charles Casperson as it turned left from Southeast 17th Avenue onto southbound McLoughlin Boulevard.

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Police said Casperson was riding his bike southbound on 17th Avenue on the east side of the street and was crossing McLoughlin when the collision occurred.

Casperson of Southeast Portland suffered traumatic injuries and was hospitalized. He has since been released from OHSU Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said Monday.

Amundson cooperated with the investigation and was not impaired at the time of the crash, police said.

In 2007, the Oregon Legislature passed the state's "vulnerable roadway user" law, requiring tougher penalties for motorists who seriously injure a bicyclist or pedestrian due to careless driving.

If convicted, Amundson could be required to pay fines amounting to more than $1,000 as well as complete a traffic safety course and perform up to 200 hours of community service. Under the law, if he fails to fulfill his obligations within a year, his license would be suspended and he would face up to $12,500 in fines.

-- Joseph Rose