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Police appeal for information after cyclist is killed in hit and run in Sheffield

Van driver has been arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink and drugs amongst other offences

South Yorkshire Police have appealed for information after a University of Sheffield student was killed while cycling on Crookes Valley Road last night. The man, who has not yet been named, was hit by a blue Ford Transit van which failed to stop.

The Star reports that the victim, who is believed to be in his twenties, was hit close to the junction with Oxford Street in Crookesmoor at 9.25pm. The Transit van went on to collide with several stationary vehicles on Providence Road, Walkley and was later found on Liberty Drive, Stannington.

Police arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through drink and drugs and causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.

Debora Green, Head of Student Support and Wellbeing at the University of Sheffield - which was recently named ‘Most Cycle-Friendly Workplace’ at the inaugural Cycle Planning Awards - said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the death of one of our students. Our thoughts are with his friends and family. We are doing what we can to support his family, friends and our staff.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Enquiries will continue in the community and officers are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact South Yorkshire Police on 101.

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12 comments

Avatar
imajez | 8 years ago
3 likes

If you get into a vehicle, drunk or on drugs then you are deliberatly doing something that is likely to cause harm or death to others. This sort of behaviour should be treated the same as other similar potentially lethal behaviour that does not involve a vehicle.
The tragic end results are not accidents either, they are the result of a deliberate choices.

Heck if I wanted to murder someone, I'd simply organise a traffic 'accident' as it seems a lot easier and safer  than organising a hitman. I may get some points and a few hours community service,  but jail is extremely unlikely.

Avatar
bumble | 8 years ago
0 likes

So sad.

And also bloody annoying. That's a dodgy road, with 2 enormous wide pavements either side - plenty of room for a seperate lane,  an easy (and obvious) job in terms of infrastructure.

 

Avatar
mrmo replied to bumble | 8 years ago
0 likes

bumble wrote:

So sad.

And also bloody annoying. That's a dodgy road, with 2 enormous wide pavements either side - plenty of room for a seperate lane,  an easy (and obvious) job in terms of infrastructure.

 

 

I don't know the road, but i do know of similar from the description, A pavement used as a cycle path is only as safe as the weakest point, junctions! TBH you can't win until drivers are subject to meaningful penalitites for breaking the law. 

I would hope that this case would see a jury be harsher, less of the by the "grace of god go i", drink driving happens but is fairly frowned upon by most.  

Avatar
Gus T | 8 years ago
1 like

My condolences to the family, another young life un-necessarily lost. IF the driver was under the influence of alcohol, and from what I see drunk driving is on the increase, then surely a new crime, not a traffic offence, of murder by driving under the influence should be introduced. Again if the initial information is correct then someone sold the driver the alcoholic drinks and prehapsthe purveyors of alcohol may also have to be included as accessories to the fact, too many shops and pubs are happy to sell alcohol in large amounts without any responsibility for the results of what happens when people over imbibe, one pub I know of even levey's a parking charge if drivers opt to take taxi home rather than drink drive. Prehaps we should take the Finnish view and use taxes to make alcohol so expensive that alcohol becomes a luxury and not a way of life. 

And no I'm not anti-alcohol, just anti drink driving, I lost a friend the day he left school because of a drink driver and on Sunday met a gentleman who took up cycling earlier this year to fill the gap left in his life when a drink driver killed his wife. We have stringent laws against smoking but in comparison have extremely lenient laws and sentencing for offences commited whilst under the influence of alcohol, one has to ask why?

Avatar
Airzound replied to Gus T | 8 years ago
0 likes

Gus T wrote:

My condolences to the family, another young life un-necessarily lost. IF the driver was under the influence of alcohol, and from what I see drunk driving is on the increase, then surely a new crime, not a traffic offence, of murder by driving under the influence should be introduced. Again if the initial information is correct then someone sold the driver the alcoholic drinks and prehapsthe purveyors of alcohol may also have to be included as accessories to the fact, too many shops and pubs are happy to sell alcohol in large amounts without any responsibility for the results of what happens when people over imbibe, one pub I know of even levey's a parking charge if drivers opt to take taxi home rather than drink drive. Prehaps we should take the Finnish view and use taxes to make alcohol so expensive that alcohol becomes a luxury and not a way of life. 

And no I'm not anti-alcohol, just anti drink driving, I lost a friend the day he left school because of a drink driver and on Sunday met a gentleman who took up cycling earlier this year to fill the gap left in his life when a drink driver killed his wife. We have stringent laws against smoking but in comparison have extremely lenient laws and sentencing for offences commited whilst under the influence of alcohol, one has to ask why?

 

Totally impractical and pie in the sky thinking this is murder. It's not. The individual did not set out in his car to kill this cyclist but what he did was grossly and criminally negligent. Neither is there any hope what so ever of prosecution of those that sold him the alcohol. The correct charges are causing death by dangerous driving and driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What needs to change is the sentencing - much more severe, ie  very long prison sentences 20 years and life time driving bans to commence when or if some one is ever finallly released. However there would be no need for any of this if scum such as this were just hung or put to death by lethal injection.

Avatar
Gus T replied to Airzound | 8 years ago
2 likes

Airzound wrote:

Gus T wrote:

My condolences to the family, another young life un-necessarily lost. IF the driver was under the influence of alcohol, and from what I see drunk driving is on the increase, then surely a new crime, not a traffic offence, of murder by driving under the influence should be introduced. Again if the initial information is correct then someone sold the driver the alcoholic drinks and prehapsthe purveyors of alcohol may also have to be included as accessories to the fact, too many shops and pubs are happy to sell alcohol in large amounts without any responsibility for the results of what happens when people over imbibe, one pub I know of even levey's a parking charge if drivers opt to take taxi home rather than drink drive. Prehaps we should take the Finnish view and use taxes to make alcohol so expensive that alcohol becomes a luxury and not a way of life. 

And no I'm not anti-alcohol, just anti drink driving, I lost a friend the day he left school because of a drink driver and on Sunday met a gentleman who took up cycling earlier this year to fill the gap left in his life when a drink driver killed his wife. We have stringent laws against smoking but in comparison have extremely lenient laws and sentencing for offences commited whilst under the influence of alcohol, one has to ask why?

 

Totally impractical and pie in the sky thinking this is murder. It's not. The individual did not set out in his car to kill this cyclist but what he did was grossly and criminally negligent. Neither is there any hope what so ever of prosecution of those that sold him the alcohol. The correct charges are causing death by dangerous driving and driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What needs to change is the sentencing - much more severe, ie  very long prison sentences 20 years and life time driving bans to commence when or if some one is ever finallly released. However there would be no need for any of this if scum such as this were just hung or put to death by lethal injection.

 

Sorry, I disagree, if I get drunk, walk into town with a loaded shotgun & start firing randomly, I get charged with attempted murder, if I do the same with a motor vehicle it becomes a lesser crime, unless the person I hit is a police officer when it becomes murder again. Everyone has a choice, if you get into a motor vehicle drunk & know the charge at the end may be murder or vehicular manslaughter which results in life imprisonment then you may change your views. There are enough TV shows & articles in the press showing the effects of drink driving so why not let the punishment fit the crime, stating it's totally impractical is not an option. Any issue can be resolved if people & politicians put their mind to it.

Avatar
tonylen | 8 years ago
0 likes

I've got two (cycling) children at Uni of Sheffield-this just sends shivers down your spine

I would imagine this poor student achieved more in one week of his short life than the low life that ran into him

least if convicted he will feel the full weight of the law.oh wait ......

Avatar
IanW1968 | 8 years ago
1 like

I wouldnt advocate state killing for any crime, people do bad stuff given the wrong circumstances.

That said..a 20 year ban and a manslaughter charge would provide some hope.

Avatar
Airzound replied to IanW1968 | 8 years ago
1 like

IanW1968 wrote:

I wouldnt advocate state killing for any crime, people do bad stuff given the wrong circumstances.

That said..a 20 year ban and a manslaughter charge would provide some hope.

 

No, not for any crime, but just for those serious ones such as in this case.

Avatar
Airzound | 8 years ago
0 likes

If the driver was pissed and drugged up to the eyeballs and knocked down the cyclist he is a complete and utter cunt. Deserves to swing from the end of a rope.

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Critchio | 8 years ago
1 like

Thoughts with the family and friends of the victim. No words can describe the pathetic excuse for a human being that killed the victim and not even a punishment akin to Hellraiser would be good enough.

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don simon fbpe | 8 years ago
0 likes

RIP brother.  2

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