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Update: Cyclist dies after collision with lorry

9:49am Tuesday 15th April 2008

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A married dad-of-one has died after colliding with an industrial tipper lorry on his bicycle in Streatham this morning.

The 32-year-old man died in St George's Hospital, Tooting, at 9.42am, about an hour and a half after his pushbike collided with the Cemex vehicle at the junction of Ambleside Avenue and Mitcham Lane.

"This is clearly a tragic collision and we are looking to see if anyone is at fault."

Sergeant Richard Auty

The victim went into cardiac arrest at the scene and ambulance staff made efforts to resuscitate him there and on the way to hospital.

Sergeant Richard Auty, from Hampton Traffic Garage which is investigating the incident, said a four-axel tipper was travelling up Mitcham Lane and turned left into Ambleside Avenue, where the collision occurred. He said the lorry driver was interviewed at the scene and no arrests have been made.

"This is clearly a tragic collision and we are looking to see if anyone is at fault," he said. "The man's next of kin have been informed and the vehicle has been taken away for forensic mechanical examination."

He added that police are gathering CCTV evidence from the nearby bus junction.

A spokesman from Cemex, a company which supplies cement, ready-mixed concrete and aggregates, said: "At this tragic time we wish to send our deepest condolences to the family of the victim. Cemex has reacted immediately with its own investigation and fully supports the current police investigation into the circumstances."

Charlie Lloyd, a cycling development officer from the London Cycling Campaign, said heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) account for half of the fatalities involving cyclists on London's roads.

"These large four-axel tippers figure most often in this type of accident," he said. "This is an issue for the construction industry - they need to address the safety of their drivers and vehicles.

"We are lobbying the Department of Transport to implement the safer "blind-spot" mirror system on all lorries, which European Union guidelines said should be in place for HGVs built after 2000 by the end of next March."

Phone Hampton's collision investigation unit on 020 8941 9011 if you saw the collision or the events leading up to it.

Did you witness the incident? Use our comment feature below or call our newsroom on 020 8330 9538.

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Erika Rosivatz, says...
11:06am Tue 15 Apr 08

I did not see the accident happen, but I cycled past it minutes later. I cycle there every morning and all I know is, that this is a very dangerous road for cyclists. I often have to break hard or jump off the bike onto the pavement because cars are coming very fast and try to overtake cyclists in a very aggressive manner. The problem is, that the road seems wide, however there are "barriers" on the road - extensions of the pavement sticking into the road. God knows what they are for. Anyway, one has to cycle around them. Overtaking cars often don't realise and come quite close to the swerving cyclists. I often found myself nearly collidng with an overtaking car. Maybe that is what sadly happened this morning.

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carly, london says...
11:42am Tue 15 Apr 08

I am not saying that this is all the cyclists fault. I am trying to say that if this is like you say, a bad road design, then really both the driver & the cyclist plus other users of the road should be aware. I know I am not a perfect driver & I dont think that I am right 100% of the time, but as a drivers point of view, cyclists can cause their own accidents. This may not be the case & I did say that this is something that my thoughts are with. I just wanted to make a point that although this may have been an accident, not all cases are & I think it is about time people realised that something needs to be done so that accidents dont happen as often involving cyclists & drivers.

And I would also like to point out by the way, that I do know what happened as I work in the area & spoke to a police officer who kindly informed me of the situation.

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john, London says...
11:46am Tue 15 Apr 08

Whilst I think Carly's comments are quite harsh for this situation, I think she does have some sort of point. There are the odd number of cyclists that give them a bad name which causes the problems between cyclists & drivers. Same with your point ric about women drivers. There are the odd few that give women drivers a bad name. At the end of the day, maybe the government need to put something in place so that cyclists can use the road safely without having to mount pavements which, in itself is dangerous to pedestrians, & that way further incidents can be avoided

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cyclist, SW16 says...
12:56pm Tue 15 Apr 08

& spoke to a police officer who kindly informed me of the situation.


I don't think so Carly. The police would never have given you details as they do not know the full facts themself. They would have told you there had been either an RTA or an incident.

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Non cyclist, Streatham says...
1:52pm Tue 15 Apr 08

This is a truly a tragic situation and my sypathy goes out to the family of the man who has died.

I fully agree with Carly's points.

How many times do you see a cyclist jump the lights or a zebra crossing?

How many times do you see cyclist riding the wrong way up a one way street?

How many times do you see cyclist weaving through crowded pavements?

Just because a cyclist is doing good for the environment, doesn't exempt them from showing due regards for other road users.

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ric, kingston says...
3:13pm Tue 15 Apr 08

hey non cyclist. i could sit here and type out a load of things i see lorry drivers do, but whats the point?

i cycled in london, the city for 2.5 years and its only the fact that im a very experienced rider that i didnt get killed. the amount of times i had to hop up onto the pavement to avoid getting hit was unbelieveable. people opening car doors, turning across your path. shocking.

lets face it roads in london arent exaclty huge. and this bottle neck effect happens all over the place. to flat out blame cyclists because your annoyed they beat you to work is pathetic.

when a cyclist isnt paying attention. he is the only one at risk. when a lorry doesnt pay attention. other people die.

when people tell me in london they want to cycle to work or get a scooter/motorbike. i tell them dont bother. because its WAY to dangerous these days for any new rider.

hardly a great advert for a city forcing people to ditch their cars...

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Brian, London says...
3:13pm Tue 15 Apr 08

Charlie, when was the last time you drove an HGV vehicle? ALL new vehicles come equipped with close proximity mirrors which enable you to see down the entire nearside and offside of the vehicle. Even with these mirrors fitted you still get several blind spots where you cannot see and these blind spots change constantly. I'm not using this post as an excuse to have a go i'm telling you the truth. However, a member of someones family is not coming home tonight if it is a case of negligance or just an accident is a matter for the police to decide.

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Non cyclist, Streatham says...
3:41pm Tue 15 Apr 08

Charlie, I am concerned that you are placing the blame on the driver. Whereas the responsibility should sit with all road users.

Statiscally, most cyclist are killed on the road, due to left turning vehicles. As a HGV take longers to execute a left turn I am curious what roles cyclist play in these situations.

I note your point that we are way behind the rest of the EU in terms of mirror systems.

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Non cyclist, Streatham says...
3:56pm Tue 15 Apr 08

Ric, I agree about your comments about cars and trucks. However my major concern is about the supposes accepted practice of ignoring traffic lights and Zebra crossings.

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Mrs.O, Sutton says...
4:03pm Tue 15 Apr 08

Whatever the circumstances, this is a tregedy and my thoughts are with the family at this devastating time.

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Bob, croydon says...
4:22pm Tue 15 Apr 08

What a sad tragedy.

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carly, london says...
4:26pm Tue 15 Apr 08

ric, whilst I may admit that how I worded my comments may have came across wrong, your attempt to blame HGV's & other drivers are fa more irrational. Of course tonight one family is going to be less their member due to what happened this morning. But you forget, one family is going to have a member so distruaght at the fact that they killed someone today, even if by accident.

You cannot assume that the poor driver does not feel guilt because at the end of the day, we can sit here & blame whoever we want for any accident but that poor driver will have this over his head for the rest of his life & personally I think that is a punishment in itself.
If he had been driving wreckless or under the infulence of alcohol, then put a heavy sentence on it, like all driving offences. But in the case of a pure accident, knowing that a person lost their life in an accident you were involved in will always be the worst punishment.

I think that there will always be the arguement between cyclists & drivers. In my personal opinion ric, if cyclists are aware that there are dangers from others around as you are & like all other types of transport, than shouldn't we be more aware of these dangers & think more carefully whilst travelling. It is obvious that no matter how many penalties & provisions are put in place, there will always be idiots out on the road that will cause accidents.

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laura, streatham(mitcham lane) says...
6:13pm Tue 15 Apr 08

just a message to say all these message about whos is and whos isnt to blame is not the issue the issue here is that a married man (thats someone who has a partner) and a child has sadly been takin from his family and friends and all our messages and preys should be with them at this very sad time. such a tragic event happened 2day. R.I.P xx

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Mark Beaumont, Battersea says...
9:04pm Tue 15 Apr 08

This is a terrible tragedy and the photo sends a shiver down my spine. My condolences to the man's family.

I cycle to work daily from Battersea to Mayfair. There are two golden rules which I follow and all cyclists should (I hope at least one novice cyclist reading this remembers these as they will save your life):

1. ALWAYS expect the idiot; and
2. NEVER go up the inside of a high-sided vehicle (lorry, bus, coach etc) - even filtering at lights. They just don't see you.

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Mark, Streatham says...
9:55pm Tue 15 Apr 08

I cross at this junction several times a week and I cant think of one occasion when I have not seen at least 2 or 3 cars go through the red lights.

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H, South London says...
10:39pm Tue 15 Apr 08

As someone who has supported the family and their son today the above has broken my heart. They have lost a father and a husband and all their dreams. Today they woke up expecting a normal day and tonight it all lies in ruin. Does it matter whos fault it is.... a man has died. I truely hope none of you have to watch or see what I have today. Please show some consideration for a grieving family and stop.

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Mick Ivory, London says...
9:26am Wed 16 Apr 08

First off all my sympathies are with this guys family their lives have been tragically changed through no fault of their own.
I have been motorcyclist for the past 35 years when I don't use that I cycle. My job can mean I am riding for 6-7 hours a day through all kinds of traffic conditions and weathers. Everyday I see cyclists having to take risks to avoid incidents (some of which they have got themselves into) and every day I see motorists making turns with no prior indication or checking their mirrors before doing so,using the phone or tending the kids or just plain not looking where they are going.
Over the past 10 years or so the ability of motorists to drive safely and courteously has declined greatly. Jumping traffic lights squeezing through on turns we have all seen it. In no small part this disregard for safe driving has been brought about by police not enforcing the law when they see these situations occurring and now it seems government have a belief that camera technology can be used to curb bad driving habits!
However the point here is that pedestrian,cyclists and motor vehicles don't mix,government recognise this and thats why we have pavements and roads.
So how big a leap of their imagination would it be for them to realise we need also need proper cycle paths that keep cycles away from motor traffic and not white lines painted along the sides of roads so politicians can tick boxes and make claims.
At this particular junction there is not even a "Cycle Box" and if there were it would not be unusual to see motor vehicles waiting in them.
As for the mirrors, all lorries should be required to be fitted with close proximity mirrors now. It is not difficult or expensive to retro fit them but it does need legislation to force "lazy" hauliers to fit them, again down to our leaders, why wait for a European directive? Why not before the next ministry test?
To reiterate what Mark Beumont said in his prior post:
1. ALWAYS expect the idiot; and
2. NEVER go up the inside of a high-sided vehicle (lorry, bus, coach etc) - even filtering at lights.
Good advise.

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carly, london says...
10:28am Wed 16 Apr 08

I think Mick & Mark got it spot on, there are so many idiots out on this road you have to think everyone else is stupid. The thing is, everyone is in such a rush these days no stops for others or has any consideration for others. I have been selfish whilst driving but no far enough to put peoples lives at risk.

And it is true, putting up cameras isn't going to stop people using mobiles, jumping lights, not indicating etc. Something has to be done otherwise tragice accidents such as this will continue to happen

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Sano, East London says...
11:18am Wed 16 Apr 08

Non cyclist wrote:
Ric, I agree about your comments about cars and trucks. However my major concern is about the supposes accepted practice of ignoring traffic lights and Zebra crossings.
Non Cyclist, while you may have a legitimate axe to grind with regards to red light jumping and riding on the pavement, I wonder what that argument is doing here?

A PERSON - not just a 'cyclist' - has been killed by a left turning lorry driver. Bringing other, irrelevant issues to this discussion marginalises the story and allows people to forget that a family will be missing a loved one for ever more.

An EU directive that states lorries must be retrofitted with additional blind spot mirrors by March 2009 looks like it will be ignored by the government, which could lead to ten more preventable deaths.

And Ricky, if you look at many junctions around the city, you'll notice that there's a green cycle lane on the inside approaching them which expands into a green cycle box immediately before the lights (called the ASL). Cyclists are ENCOURAGED to use these which means you HAVE to undertake stationary traffic. It's not illegal. Ill advised, perhaps, but not illegal. Experienced cyclists know this, but novices, who are following the rules of the road, don't.

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N, London says...
12:52pm Wed 16 Apr 08

As another person who was helping dealing with this incident yesterday, I would also urge you to stop. This man has a son and a wife, as well as other family and friends. All of these peoples lives have now been left in pieces. Yesterday was just a normal morning for them and now their whole lives have been turned upside down. I do hope that we can give his family the respect they deserve and stop arguing about political correctness, that is for the Police to decide. A boy has been left without a father, a woman without a husband and a mother without a son. This is an extremley tragic event and my best wishes go out to his family at this terrible time. May this gentleman rest in peace.

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Nick, Brixton says...
3:27pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Ricky of Sheen, overtaking on the inside is legal even when the traffic is moving, if you do it safely. More info here: www.mcnninjas.co.uk/
docs/Filtering

If it wasn't legal, traffic in London would grind to a halt.

In your ignorance of the highway code you have labelled a dead man as a "menace". You can be sure the victim's family and friends will read your slur on his character, so I hope you will post an apology here.


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Mike, Rugby says...
4:31pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Non cyclist wrote:
This is a truly a tragic situation and my sypathy goes out to the family of the man who has died.

I fully agree with Carly\'s points.

How many times do you see a cyclist jump the lights or a zebra crossing?

How many times do you see cyclist riding the wrong way up a one way street?

How many times do you see cyclist weaving through crowded pavements?

Just because a cyclist is doing good for the environment, doesn\'t exempt them from showing due regards for other road users.
An dhow many times do you see a vehicle jump a red light? How many times do you see a vehicle going the wrong way up a one way street. How many times do you see a car illeglly parked? Make a valid point please.

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Alex Ball, Streatham says...
10:02pm Wed 16 Apr 08

I ride near to this route every day. My heart sank when I saw all the Police cars and the redirected traffic. TRhere's a story in that itself. You would not believe how badly that redirected traffic was driving in the narrow backstreets it was directed into...
However, another life wasted. This firm operates from a depot near to my route to work and their drivers are not exactly careful or slow further down the route.
As for the comments further up. Remember 2 things, car drivers have to be licensed before they can drive. Tons of metal full of distractions take a considerable amount of skill to steer around the roads.
Cycle paths are the worst compromise. They move cyclists off the main routes and out of sight is out of mind. They are usually badly designed, go nowhere useful end abruptly and frce cyclists to maek reappearances onto the roads in unexpected places. No-one would design roads like this!
R.I.P. fellow cyclist and my condolences to all you leave behind.

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Sarah White, Mitcham says...
1:38am Thu 17 Apr 08

You people are a bunch of idiotic retarded heathens. What do you mean RIP? Who do you think is reading your daft opinions? Certainly not the deceased's family - just bored insomniacs who should know better....

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Rick, Belmont says...
9:01am Thu 17 Apr 08

Sarah White, Mitcham.
It would seem from your comment that people like you read these daft opinions too.
Try this take the sleeping tablets earlier, get a cup of cocoa have a warm bath then try again.

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Ian Harvey, Tooting says...
12:56pm Thu 17 Apr 08

Sarah White wrote:
You people are a bunch of idiotic retarded heathens. What do you mean RIP? Who do you think is reading your daft opinions? Certainly not the deceased\'s family - just bored insomniacs who should know better....
I think she may have a point...

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Michael, SW2, Brixton says...
3:24pm Thu 17 Apr 08

I cycle through that junction regularly, and did so on the morning of the accident.
The junction where the accident happened is appalling - made more so by the habit of traffic in both directions to jump the lights. I see it almost daily.
I'm a cyclist, a car driver, and a pedestrian at various times of the week.
There are good and bad drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. No group is any better than the others.
The best way of ensuring these horrific accidents don't happen again is to show consideration for your fellow road and pavement users - whoever you are.

My thoughts are with the man's family.



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Cordon: Traffic police start their investigations at the scene of the accident Cordon: Traffic police start their investigations at the scene of the accident

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