Cyclist killed in lorry collision is the second victim in a week

The crash happened yesterday morning in Vernon Place. The 31-year-old victim was crushed as the lorry turned left into Southampton Row.

Paramedics rushed to the scene but were unable to save the woman, who died in the road.

Witnesses told how they heard "a terrible scream" at the moment of the crash and said the lorry driver had apparently not noticed what had happened.

A fellow cyclist who was yards away from the woman said the accident was horrific.

He said: "I was just ahead of the cyclist. I heard a terrible scream and shouting. The lorry was turning left from Bloomsbury Way into Southampton Row - she never had a chance.

"It still gives me the shivers thinking about it. I was about 25 metres past the junction in Southampton Row and when I turned round it was pretty much all over but the lorry driver didn't seem to notice and kept going.

"Only when a guy on the pavement screamed at him to stop did he pull up. It seems to be another feature of these incidents - lorry drivers don't notice the cyclist and often don't even realise they have gone over someone."

It is the second fatal collision in a week following the death of father-oftwo Nick Wright who was killed by a lorry in Upper Thames Street last Thursday.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the latest death.

Detective Sergeant Dave Hindmarsh from the Euston Collision Investigation Unit, said: "I am appealing for anyone who witnessed this collision to contact our investigation team.

"Southampton Row, which is near Holborn Tube station, is a busy thoroughfare and even at this time of the morning would have been crowded with people. If you saw anything that you think may help our inquiry, please call our incident room." The Evening Standard's Safer Cycling Campaign has called for better facilities, extra funding, more training and the examination of the cause of accidents.

In 2005, 20 cyclists were killed and 338 injured on London's roads. In 2006, 18 were killed and 349 injured and last year 14 died and 253 were injured.

More than half of those killed are involved in accidents with lorries and experts fear the death toll could rise as construction lorries pack London's roads in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics.

A Transport for London spokeswoman said cycle deaths since the Nineties were down 19 per cent despite a 91 per cent increase in cycling.

Anyone with information about the accident should contact police on 020 7388 6806.