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Broken bike (CC licensed image by garryknight, www.flickr.com)Pothole crash caused cyclist’s death, inquest hears
A pothole was responsible for an e-bike rider’s death in Ashford, Kent, an inquest has heard.
Algert Lleshi, aged 22 and from northwest London, sustained fatal head injuries when he crashed on Beaver Road on 2 June this year.
An inquest into his death at Maidstone Coroner’s Court heard that he appeared to swerve from side to side before crashing and striking his head on the road surface, knocking him out reports Kent Online.
He regained consciousness seven minutes later and was being treated by two motorists and an off-duty nurse.
When the emergency services reached the scene, Mr Lleshi, who was originally from Albania, was conscious and sitting upright, and was able to get to his feet and walk to an ambulance.
However, he told paramedics he had a pain in his head, and appeared to drift into unconsciousness again for two minutes before coming round again.
He was taken to William Harvey Hospital in Willesborough, where he was found to have sustained a traumatic brain injury.
With his condition deteriorating, he was taken to King’s College Hospital in south London, but despite undergoing an operation never regained consciousness and died on 5 June.
Assistant coroner Katrina Hepburn said it “seems likely” that the pothole was a contributory factor in the fatal crash.
“It may well have been that the pothole wasn’t apparent to him given the time, despite the street lights,” she said. “On balance it seems likely that it was what caused him to lose balance.
Passing her “sincere condolences” to his family, she added: “It is deeply tragic to lose such a young man in such tragic circumstances.”
Following Mr Lleshi’s death, local resident Alfie Gent, who witnessed the crash, tied some flowers to a lamp post in tribute to the young cyclist.
“Unfortunately none of his family or friends could make it here to lay any tributes so I went down there on their behalf,” he explained at the time.
“I saw the crash happen and was so sad to hear that he died later, I still find it almost hard to believe.
“After speaking with Algert's best friend, it is the only way I could show my respect for him.”
However, less than five hours after he left the tribute, it was stolen.
“I was shocked," Mr Gent said. “It was really upsetting to find that they were gone.
“I had even used a zip tie to secure it to the lamp post, so it wasn't as if they were just picked up – it would have taken effort to remove them,” he added. “I just can't believe someone would do such a thing.”
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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16 comments
A tragic case on several levels, and a sad comment on the condition of our roads and the priorities of the highway authorities. The main question being did the council know about the pothole before the accident and if so, why wasn't it repaired?
The other notable thing is the lack of information about whether he was wearing a helmet and the assistant coroner's statement that it was the pothole that caused his death.
Agreed. My first thought on reading the details was to wonder re. the helmet.
As a resident of Kent I was disappointed to learn that unless the pothole is 5cm deep it doesn't count.
When I spoke to the Highways people they confirmed that car tyres and suspension were considered not bicycles. I explained that 3cm was enough to cause a wheel collapse and fatal loss of control however they were not concerned. Obviously after the autumn leaf drop there are traction hazards too.
Mind how you go out there...
Have you been in touch with your local councillors to protest at the blatant bias of the highways people? If they have this rule, make them justify it, and then prove them wrong and demand that the roads are made safe for all road users, which is a mandatory duty for councils.
I have heard this locally, that the council consider roads to be safe for cars.
I've not sure a 3cm deep hole is sufficient to cause a wheel to fail. But width of hole can certainly be an issue. Imagive the tarmac failing next to a drain or other cover. The hole is 5cm deep, but only 4 or 5 cm wide. No car tyre could possible go down that, but lethal to cyclists
That reminds me - I must remember to report a pothole near the BRI in Bristol. It looks like an inverted 'pyramid' - maybe five or six inches deep, three sharp edged - er - edges, and goes down to a point. Its only about six or seven inches wide. I always forget it's there, and have to swerve at the last moment if I'm following a car.
Maybe that's the tack that needs to be taken - "This pothole is dangerous to cars, because it may cause a cyclist to swerve in front of them..."
I can understand Mr Gents dismay. I put flowers against the post my sister was killed next to. Within 30 minutes they'd gone. I resolved this by focusing on the act of putting them there was what was important, not that they remained. Still upsetting though.
Condolences to friends and family of the rider
Spot on.
Condolences too
The best responce Tim.
Many of us regard these tributes as litter. Your sadness is of course justifed but to others that is not an excuse for litter.
Initially, I thought you meant for his own peace of mind.
On further reading, perhaps yours was not the best response....
In my village (I keep wanting to style it as 'the Village') there's a bench.
It was crowdfunded to replace a rotten knackered old one, and people could have a little metal plaque affixed, with the name of a deceased loved one on it.
What has happened, though, is (1) people attach a bunch of flowers or something, with cable ties, and then never ever go back and remove it so the bench ends up with bunches of dead flowers cable-tied to it, and (2) you get people complaining that "teenagers" or even just "people" are sitting on it, and drinking from cans, etc. I know - sitting on a bench!
I had a point to make about memorials, but got lost somewhere. If I remember it, I'll come back and edit
Was it that memorials are bad, unless they're of slave owners or traders?
Good grief. There are shit takes, and there are shit takes. And then there's this.
Have a word with yourself
I got the point, despite his ham fisted way of putting it, and no offence taken. I had no intention of removing the "litter", but had gone to the trouble of ensuring there was no plastic around them, as my sister was killed in Holland, and I don't get there very often. She was knocked off her bike by a speeding motorist, but as I was the only witness, and was 8, the police decided to believe the driver over me, as there were no skid marks. He did knock a lampost over, and roll his car 3 times though, in a 50kph area.
What pissed me off most, after getting over the fact my tribute had gone, was that someone got £30 worth of perfectly good fresh flowers for free
removing floral tributes (esp after a very brief time) is rather heartless.
However I do know what you mean regarding litter. It has become the norm in this country in recent years to see floral tributes laid where there has been tragedy, and I get that, I also understand that in some cases they assist those left grieving. But when they are wrapped in plastic bags, surrounded by plastic toys and football scarves then they become just that - litter. How long should they be left for, who is responsible for clearing them away (and some one will get upset no matter how long you wait) then they get replaced annually just to add to the issue.
There is a park near me with numerous memorial benches, I think they are a lovly tribute to someones memory, but I am less comfortable using them when the ground around them has become someones personal shrine and I have to share the bench with a plastic wrapped bunch of flowers cable tied to each arm of the bench.