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15 cyclists killed on UK roads in first month of lockdown - here's what we know so far

Two incidents appear not to have involved another vehicle; arrests made in three cases but investigations continue

Our story from Thursday about how the number of cyclists killed on Britain's roads during the first month of the lockdown was running at double the amount usually seen at this time of year generated a lot of discussion.

> Cyclist deaths double during lockdown – at twice the average for the time of year

Usually, we only learn the full circumstances of fatal crashes months or sometimes years after they happened when a coroner's inquest is held or, if charges are brought against a motorist, when the case goes to court, and even then not all get reported.

Here are the details we know so far of the 14 deaths in Great Britain and one in Northern Ireland, with the names of the victims where they have been released.

26 March – A male cyclist aged in his 80s died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge the day after a collision involving a van on the city’s Newmarket Road at the roundabout with Barnwell Road.  No arrest has reportedly been made.

26 March – A male cyclist was killed in Moira, near Lisburn, Northern Ireland, after a collision involving a SEAT Leon car. The driver was not reported to have been arrested. The victim's age was not disclosed.

1 April – A male cyclist aged 50 died in hospital from injuries he sustained in a collision involving a van in Alford, Lincolnshire, on the morning of 23 March – later that day, the UK-wide lockdown would be announced. There are no reports of any arrest being made.

3 April – Simon Morgan, aged 57, died in hospital from injuries sustained earlier that day as a result of a collision involving a tractor near Balsall Common, Solihull. The driver was reported to be assisting police with their enquiries.

7 April – Metropolitan Police intelligence analyst Rachel Brown, aged 25, was killed in a collision involving two other vehicles in Worcester Park, south west London, as she rode to work. No arrests have been reported.

8 April – A male cyclist aged in his 60s died as a result of a collision involving a van in the village of Compton near Guildford, Surrey. The driver of the van was treated for minor injuries. There are no reports of any arrest.

10 April – Robert Holmes, aged 36, was killed in a collision involving a car near Menai Bridge, Anglesey. There are no reports of an arrest having been made.

11 April – Cyclist Paul Heenan, aged 40, died in hospital in Cardiff from injuries he sustained the previous day in a collision involving a Peugeot 208 car in Ebbw Vale. Police arrested the driver of the vehicle at the scene on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was subsequently released while investigations continue.

13 April – A male cyclist aged in his 50s died in hospital in Surrey following a collision the previous day in Sunbury. The driver of the vehicle involved, a Mercedes CLK coupé, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was subsequently released under investigation.

15 April – Philip Bamsey, aged 67, was killed in Port Talbot, South Wales. There was no report of the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident, a Ford Fiesta, being arrested.

16 April – A cyclist died at the scene of a collision involving a lorry at Market Deeping, Northamptonshire. No arrests have been reported.

17 April – An 18-year-old male cyclist died on the A1086 between Blackhall and Horden, County Durham. Police said: “His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.”

18 April – Seamus Murphy, 44, died in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, die to injuries sustained in a collision involving a Fiat Punto car in Tamworth, Staffordshire on 15 April. No arrests have been made.

20 April – Freddie Oborne, aged 80 and a keen cyclist and triathlete, was killed in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. A 23-year-old woman from Hertford was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. She has since been released under investigation.

22 April – An unnamed male cyclist, aged 55, died at Dibbles Bridge, North Yorkshire. There was not report of another vehicle being involved and police have appealed for witnesses. The Yorkshire Post reports that two other cyclists have been killed at the same location in recent years, both after being thrown over the bridge parapet onto the riverbed below.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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14 comments

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Mark_1973_ | 3 years ago
0 likes
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nniff | 3 years ago
3 likes

Close passes are definitely more numerous thatn they were, especially given the number of cars of the road. I had three this morning, which was 10% of the number of cars that passed me, which is just ridiculous

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IanMSpencer | 3 years ago
2 likes

I commented on the other article about concerns about how solo cyclists are not as readily observed as groups.

As a couple, in an area with ready access to countryside, we have been walking a lot, as my wife is not a cyclist.

What I have observed are some experienced cyclists riding at speed without proper consideration for what might be ahead.

Two issues, while on a bike it seems quite noisy, but pedestrians don't hear the wind noise, and tyre noise doesn't seem to carry far. So I've had several incidents where a polite call of "cyclist behind" from a distance could have helped, and avoided the risk of a surprised walker stepping in front as they turn to look behind.

Second point is speed on blind corners on single track road. Again as walkers, walking into oncoming traffic, we've had cyclists at speed surprised to come upon us, and also seen examples where the cyclist has used optimism and taken corners way above stopping distance in case of oncoming traffic on a single track road.

As a car driver, on a single track road, you should drive at a speed where you can stop in half the distance you can see, as the oncoming vehicle also needs stopping distance (most don't drive like this). This applies to cyclists too when there is not enough width to safely pass. With tractors, there is rarely enough width to pass on a country lane.

So, we must be careful not to jump to the conclusion that it is all on the drivers.

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OnTheRopes | 3 years ago
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asbwilson1994 | 3 years ago
2 likes

Just wait for the non-cycling media to rephrase this as reasons why cycling should be banned.

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CygnusX1 | 3 years ago
6 likes

Each one a tragedy for the individual concerned, their family and friends as much as the people behind the statistics at the daily press briefings.

If not more so. A virus makes no conscious decision to kill its host, whereas many of these are likely to be the result of somebody's decision to drive in a way that caused a collision and death of another human.

May the departed Rest in Peace. However, the living must rage against this.

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eburtthebike | 3 years ago
5 likes

A depressing list, and the number of arrests and investigations is surprisingly low.  I wonder whether it would have been higher if the victims were pedestrians, and whether the police treat the deaths of cyclists as less important and worthy of investigation than other deaths?

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Sriracha replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
2 likes

To be arrested you have to be suspected of an offence, such as dangerous driving or drink driving. Simply killing a cyclist whilst driving your car is an "accident", not an offence, it seems. In other countries I understand that the driver is assumed to be at fault.

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BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
3 likes

Yes, it's the 'law of liability' -  which is 'victim friendly'. Whereas in the UK  'victim blaming' is the norm. (For people who cycle)

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massive4x4 replied to BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP | 3 years ago
0 likes

Lukas wrote:

Yes, it's the 'law of liability' -  which is 'victim friendly'. Whereas in the UK  'victim blaming' is the norm. (For people who cycle)

You do realise that:

1: The strict liability refers only to the damges sought after an accident, it has no bearing on any criminal liability.

2: As a provision in law it is pretty rare globally, the UK is definitely towards the harsher end of motoring criminal punishments.

3: Insurance would pay it anyway so any behaviour alterations are likely to be minor

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ktache | 3 years ago
10 likes

My deepest condolences to the families and friends of those taken from them.

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NZ Vegan Rider replied to ktache | 3 years ago
1 like

My deepest condolences to the families and friends of those taken from them.

I agree. Each case is terrible and very sad for all ;-(

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