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Cyclist dies in red-light lorry crash
Ed Harris, Evening Standard22.04.08
A cyclist was killed when he was crushed under the wheels of a lorry, after apparently jumping a red light.
The 30-year old died in the collision in Hackney yesterday morning. Witnesses said the cyclist had jumped a red light as he headed south in Kingsland Road and tried to ride around the lorry, which was pulling into the road from Middleton Road.
The driver is thought to have been unaware that the collision had taken place.
A policeman flagged down the lorry after one of his back wheels had gone over the cyclist.
A witness, shop manager Ali Topal, 18, said: "The lorry ran over the man's head. I'm not sure if he was wearing a helmet. It was horrific."
Pensioner Brenda Dilworth, 64, said: "I saw the lorry after the bike hit it. It was obvious the driver hadn't realised what had happened. A policeman banged on the driver's window and he finally stopped but it was too late.
"There was a lot of blood on the road. It's terribly sad. To me he looked between 25 and 30 years old."
Tailor Halit Tekdiect, 62, said: "I heard a bang and a man screaming outside my shop. I saw the aftermath of the accident, it was horrendous."
A police spokesman confirmed a white male aged 30 was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Reader views (10)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Mark, you admit you skip red lights and then gloss over the point. Perhaps if cyclists stopped at red lights they themselves would have less accidents and another positive outcome would be less pedestrians being injured too. I am tired of dodging cyclists going through a red light at crossings.
- Jennifer, London
How sad to here about this accident. the thing with skip truck driving is that we don't have the time in the day to do all of the jobs that the boss has sent us to do.
We can only drive for 4 and a half hours in the morning then have to take a break of 45 mins / then work 4 and a half hours in the the afternoon so 9 hours to get upto 15 skips to sites across London. 6 days a week there is just not the time in the day to just drive around like the milk man, I only wish there was. And so many blind spots for the public to hide in, and if you don't get the jobs done the boss will find a driver that can and will drive Like a fool. Don't go up the inside of a truck and don't sit to close behind a skip truck you just don't know what might fall out. Stay safe out there.
- Lyndon, London uk
Horrendous indeed. I myself jump red lights but have slowed down recently due to 2 bad accidents. A work colleague actually saw this accident and was notably shaken. I realise the poor guy was jumping a light but I don't know if anyone else has noticed how fast these skip drivers race around our road. It was inevitable that last year a National Express coach was involved in a fatal accident, something I and a few friends had accurately predicted. I had been forced off the roads of South London several times and always by a Nat Express coach. I warned a policeman at the time of an impending fatal accident involving these drivers which fell on deaf ears. It does feel like we cyclists are second-class citizens and I'm sure there will be a lot of petrol heads secretly scoffing at this poor guys - and indeed his families' mishap, such is my experience of fellow road-users.
When told by a colleague of a fatal cycling accident my first question was "Was it a skip lorry ?"
Enough said.
Any of you skipdrivers in East London reading this will be happy to learn that I am following one of you around with a camera to prove how reckless you can be. I'm not saying it's all of you, but sadly for this poor victim there are too many of these hooligans on the road.
And I make no apologies for that term - hooligans.
PS Did this guy really jump the lights? There seems to be some disagreement on this.
- Mark, London
His poor family, RIP mate.
- Joe, Birmingham
This is horrific however it happened.
I don't really don't get Stewart's view about it being horrific to carry kids on a bike. Are you essentially saying that you risk your life every time you cycle, even as a very aware and cautious cyclist? That is insane!
More training is needed for all - cyclists, motorists and pedestrians.
- Katy, Hackney, London
Rules are made to be respected. We are all adults and we make our decisions to follow them or break them. Pedestrians J-walk, bikers jump lights, Compulsory registration only increases costs, with no practical means to monitor. The police force is stretched as it is, do you think there are officers waiting at every junction to catch that cyclist?
Grow up and be responsible for yourself.
- Dennis, London
I cycle from Camden rd to work in Hackney rd every day, have done for years. I am always amazed by the ignorance of very large numbers of cyclists who jump lights at large junctions and much worse.
Many are so inexperienced they should not be allowed on the road. Others clearly unaware of any need to obey the law. I agree with Jerry that all cyclists need to be trained and licensed before riding . Children should never be allowed on the roads.
Bicycle child carts and child seats should also be banned from using the roads full stop! I cringe every time I see these people carting the kids about like that! It's too horrific to contemplate.
- Stewart, London
A friend saw this happen, and they don't know where this story of him jumping the red light came from.
- Dave, London
How stupid that people care so little for their own lives. This was an accident waiting to happen. But no doubt cyclists will continue to jump red-lights. When will they learn they are there for a reason?
- Philip, London, England
I am sorry to hear of this man's death. But while Ken and the Government promote cycling as a good means of getting around London they overlook one thing,cyclists still think as pedestrians and pay very little or no regard for traffic lights. The Balls Pond Road/Kingsland High Road junction is particularly bad. All cyclists need to trained with a CBT and licensed, and every bike should carry a registration number. It works in Switzerland and is long overdue here.
- Jerry, London
