SAN FRANCISCO -- A bicyclist was severely hurt Monday morning on her way to work when a pickup truck carrying cement struck her while making an illegal right-hand turn, according to police.

The collision happened around 8:25 a.m. at the intersection of Octavia Boulevard and Market Street, the site of a four-lane freeway connector.

A super-duty Ford pickup truck loaded with cement bags made an illegal right-hand turn from Market Street to get onto the freeway, said police Sgt. Steve Mannina.

The driver didn't stop, but a nearby motorcycle officer was able to track down the truck on U.S. Highway 101 near the Cesar Chavez Street off-ramp, Mannina said.

The driver wasn't arrested for leaving the scene of the crash, however, because investigators were convinced that the man did not realize he had hit the 28-year-old bicyclist, Mannina said.

Police describe the woman's injuries as life-threatening even though she was wearing a helmet. The driver was cited for making an illegal right turn.

According to Bruce Chapman, owner of It's Tops Coffee Shop, a cafe at the intersection, the victim in the crash was cut and bleeding from her face when paramedics arrived.

Chapman said someone was hit in the same exact place in December and that the intersection is a dangerous place for pedestrians and bicyclists during rush hour commute hours.

In 2005, the revamped central freeway project opened and has since been the site of several morning and evening crashes, according to Chapman.

"The south side of Octavia is probably the worst in the morning," Chapman said. "People are trying to get on the freeway, they're running red lights and on top of it all, the sun is right in their eyes."

Police said the victim was transported to San Francisco General Hospital.