SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - A somber mood fell over the bicycle-messenger community after it was learned that a longtime courier was killed in a collision with a pickup truck Wednesday near Alamo Square.

A 35-year-old bike messenger, known by friends and colleagues only as Kirk, was fatally struck by a green Toyota pickup at 10:55 a.m.

The collision occurred in the middle of the intersection of Fulton and Steiner streets, according to police spokesman Sgt. Wilfred Williams.

Police are still investigating who had the right of way. The driver remained at the scene and told traffic investigators that he had a yellow light. The bicyclist hit the back of the pickup as it went through the intersection, police said.

Kirk worked with an independent courier service named American Flyers.

His death coincidentally happened on the same day that a worldwide Ride of Silence was scheduled to take place.

The annual worldwide event commemorates bicyclists who have been killed or injured in accidents on public roadways.

The San Francisco ride was reorganized to begin at Alamo Square to memorialize The City’s first bicycle-related death of 2008.

There were two bicyclists killed in 2007 and two in 2006. One of the 2007 deaths was a woman who was shot to death while on her bicycle.

“If there’s any good news, it’s that this is the first fatality of the year and we’re almost halfway through,” said Andy Thornley of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

“A tragedy like this can often scare people away from biking when it’s actually very safe to ride your bike in San Francisco.”

bbegin@sfexaminer.com