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Four club riders hit by turning car in Yorkshire

Newspaper leads with shattered windscreen

Two cyclists were left badly injured after four members of Yorkshire’s 3RT amateur cycling team were hit when an oncoming car turned into them near Huddersfield last weekend. Police are appealing for witnesses.

A motorist travelling along Clough Lane towards Fixby was turning right into Lightridge Road when the incident took place shortly after 9am on Saturday November 18.

Presumably in an effort to give some sense of the impact, the Huddersfield Daily Examiner published a photo of the car’s shattered windscreen. It then headlined its article “Photo shows severe damage to car after accident with four cyclists.”

In a statement, the 3RT team said: “On Saturday morning a group of our members were involved in an incident involving a motor vehicle resulting in some severe injuries to two of them. The police are treating the incident as serious and we ask while those involved are treated and begin the road to recovery and the police conduct their investigation we (the club) and more importantly the families are given time and space.

“We thank everyone for their overwhelming support and hope you understand we are unable to comment on the incident and the extent of injuries at this time.”

Responding to a newspaper report on the incident, team member Mel Sykes tweeted:

She later added:  “One lad just got home from hospital with a few broken bones, the other is in [Leeds General Infirmary] in a bad way. Both bikes smashed completely in half. Driver said he didn’t see them.”

A police spokeswoman said: “A black Volkswagen Golf travelling along Clough Lane towards Fixby was turning right into Lightridge Road when it has been involved in a collision with a group of cyclists travelling in the opposite direction.

“The cyclists were in a group of four riding single file. Two of the cyclists were seriously injured – with one being treated for potentially life-threatening injuries – while a third suffered minor injuries. The fourth cyclist was not injured.

“Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision itself or the manner of driving or riding of any of the vehicles involved prior to the incident. Officers are particularly keen to speak to the driver of a blue van which was behind the Golf at the time of the collision.”

Anyone with information should contact the Western Area Safer Roads and Neighbourhood Support Team via 101, quoting log 506 of 18/11

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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27 comments

Avatar
severs1966 | 6 years ago
1 like

"driver has taken full responsibility"

...because it's West Yorkshire plod doing the "investigation" and he probably won't be punished beyond the now-universal awareness course. The driver knows this in advance, and that's why he paid no care and attention to the cyclists' safety.

Indeed, I would not be surprised if the cops' "investigation" consisted of doing nothing, followed by taking no action. That's the norm in WY, where the cops are VERY hostile to cyclists.

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AndyL_100 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Absolutely rediculous, amateur and insensitive reporting by the Huddersfield Daily Examiner.

Surely the fate of the unfortunate cyclists is more important in the headline, than the condition of the car? To focus on the car shows yet again the ignorance of these so called journalists who have probably never ever ridden on two wheels!

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ClubSmed | 6 years ago
3 likes

As they are appealing for witnesses I would assume that any details that would help jog peoples memory are key, I am actually disapointed that what they were wearing has not been mentioned. The full details of colour, make and model have been released about the car to jog potential witnesses memories but all that was said about the cyclists is that there were 4 and they were traveling single file.

For me personally though, that detail helped set the scene and I can see in my head how it happened and how 2 of the group got seriously injured and the other 2 managed to only get minor injuries.

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brooksby | 6 years ago
1 like

Didn't we have a long discussion elsewhere on the site recently about riding side-by-side vs single file .  Seems to me, the motorist might​ have been better able to see them if they'd been riding side-by-side (stormtrooper style vs sandpeople style).    If he'd looked before turning, of course.

But of course then the cyclists would have probably been close passed by some ar$e behind them who felt they were taking up too much of the road or something...    Can't win, can we?

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cdamian | 6 years ago
4 likes

Also: not an "accident"

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burtthebike | 6 years ago
1 like

Crass reporting by the paper, but judging by the damage to the car, those guys must have some serious injuries.  Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

The paper's website doesn't seem to take comments, which is a pity, as I'd have a couple of things to say to them about their article.

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
2 likes

Indeed, I also assume they were wearing helmets otherwise he'd have mentioned they weren't...

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brooksby replied to alansmurphy | 6 years ago
2 likes
alansmurphy wrote:

Indeed, I also assume they were wearing helmets otherwise he'd have mentioned they weren't...

Club run, wasn't it? Almost certain to be wearing helmets and appropriate visibility stuff.  (And lycra, but that's not really relevant).

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to brooksby | 6 years ago
3 likes
brooksby wrote:
alansmurphy wrote:

Indeed, I also assume they were wearing helmets otherwise he'd have mentioned they weren't...

Club run, wasn't it? Almost certain to be wearing helmets and appropriate visibility stuff.  (And lycra, but that's not really relevant).

Why did you use the word 'appropriate' when describing visibility stuff?

You see, even you and many other people who ride bikes can't help but use words/phrases like that that again have more meaning to it than you even realise.

it basically says that if they weren't wearing 'visibility' clothing they'd be invisible, that a club run/serious cyclist would never leave home without it and that indeed it's appropriate to wear it, same as for helmets.

This way of thinking just re-enforces exactly what plod have done here and many other instances , by the media and indeed many other people riding bikes, it's now sdet in stone for the majority including cyclists that that is how we should be dressed up otherwise it's NOT appropriate.

Avatar
brooksby replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
0 likes
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
brooksby wrote:
alansmurphy wrote:

Indeed, I also assume they were wearing helmets otherwise he'd have mentioned they weren't...

Club run, wasn't it? Almost certain to be wearing helmets and appropriate visibility stuff.  (And lycra, but that's not really relevant).

Why did you use the word 'appropriate' when describing visibility stuff?

You see, even you and many other people who ride bikes can't help but use words/phrases like that that again have more meaning to it than you even realise.

it basically says that if they weren't wearing 'visibility' clothing they'd be invisible, that a club run/serious cyclist would never leave home without it and that indeed it's appropriate to wear it, same as for helmets.

This way of thinking just re-enforces exactly what plod have done here and many other instances , by the media and indeed many other people riding bikes, it's now sdet in stone for the majority including cyclists that that is how we should be dressed up otherwise it's NOT appropriate.

You have a point, though that wasn't my intention. I consider my wrist well and truly slapped   3

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
3 likes

The cyclists were riding along xx road would have sufficed, the fact they were single file or not is totally irrelevant, it's like when reports/statements/articles talk about a road death and make to mention if they victim was wearing hi-vis or helmet, it's meaningless, well it should be because unless the dead person was doing something wrong i.e. illegal/unlawful/particularly stupid then what they were wearing makes jack=shit difference but it is used as a weapon/tool to bash people on bikes and plod are exactly the same, they too are motorcentric as much as they want to be impartial they aren't, you only have to see/read/hear their reactions in cycle related incidents.

they wouldn't say a car was driving in single file would they or say that it was not in hi-vis colours or the driver was/was not wearing a helmet/michelin suit and HANS device, or even if the car had ABS/airbags//side impact beams etc, so why mention stuff that has no relevance to the incident.

They basically believe that helmets and hi-vis work, they basically feel the need to state that the cyclists where in single file to make a point as if somehow they weren't then they'd be partially to blame.

If you apply the motorcentric BS to other walks of life when people are harmed/suffer loss you'd see how badly and unlawfully at times we are treated.

Avatar
alansmurphy | 6 years ago
4 likes

"The cyclists were in a group of four riding single file".

 

What is this sentence meant to achieve?

 

Is plod suggesting it should have been easier to see them as it's a long train?

 

Is plod suggesting they'd have been safer riding side by side upsetting motorists?

 

Is plod suggesting they are genuine victims due to riding what most perceive as properly?

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to alansmurphy | 6 years ago
3 likes
alansmurphy wrote:

"The cyclists were in a group of four riding single file".

 

What is this sentence meant to achieve?

 

Is plod suggesting it should have been easier to see them as it's a long train?

 

Is plod suggesting they'd have been safer riding side by side upsetting motorists?

 

Is plod suggesting they are genuine victims due to riding what most perceive as properly?

Plod talking like plod, shocka! Plod is stating a fact as they see it. Not really worth commenting on really.

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Kadinkski replied to alansmurphy | 6 years ago
2 likes
alansmurphy wrote:

"The cyclists were in a group of four riding single file".

 

What is this sentence meant to achieve?

 

Is plod suggesting it should have been easier to see them as it's a long train?

 

Is plod suggesting they'd have been safer riding side by side upsetting motorists?

 

Is plod suggesting they are genuine victims due to riding what most perceive as properly?

They’re not suggesting anything, just relaying the facts. It describes the circumstances of the accident and explains the varying severity of the injuries. It also indicates that the dickhead of a driver reacted quickly after initial contact.

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StuInNorway | 6 years ago
4 likes

So when a carfails to yield to oncoming traffic, and hits cyclists who were not even 2 abreast, which we keep hearing drivers say is so dangerousand slows them down, they seek witnesses to the mannor of driving and cycling before the incident.  Unless they seriously believe the cyclists were speeding, or wearing invisibility cloaks, I'd have thought the accident scene and those involved would be enough to work out what happened. Unless they are looking for extra charges for teh driver if he'd recently been seen oulling other dodgy bits of driving.

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kitsunegari replied to StuInNorway | 6 years ago
3 likes
StuInNorway wrote:

So when a carfails to yield to oncoming traffic, and hits cyclists who were not even 2 abreast, which we keep hearing drivers say is so dangerousand slows them down, they seek witnesses to the mannor of driving and cycling before the incident.  Unless they seriously believe the cyclists were speeding, or wearing invisibility cloaks, I'd have thought the accident scene and those involved would be enough to work out what happened. Unless they are looking for extra charges for teh driver if he'd recently been seen oulling other dodgy bits of driving.

Seeking witnesses is quite rightly due diligence in the event it goes to court.

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Russell Orgazoid | 6 years ago
9 likes

"Police appeal for witnesses"

You have 4 plus the dickhead behind the wheel, Plod.

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Critchio replied to Russell Orgazoid | 6 years ago
0 likes
Plasterer's Radio wrote:

"Police appeal for witnesses"

You have 4 plus the dickhead behind the wheel, Plod.

Yeah because they are all independent witnesses aren't they?

But anyway, how do you not see 4 cyclists? Even in low winter sun? You wear sunglasses and pay attention, stopping if you need to. My sunglasses are always ready to snatch up in an instant and they allow me to look directly into the sun and be able to clearly see the road ahead. That should be mandatory imo. Although it might not have been sun of course...

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mtedds | 6 years ago
9 likes

Pretty unbelievable that the damage to the car is considered more newsworthy than critical damage to people.

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TriTaxMan | 6 years ago
1 like

Having had a looked at the area on Google maps the driver was heading south east on the road at the time, but the road is wide and seems to have good visibility in terms of the fact that the junction is midway along a wide straight section of road where the driver would have had at least 100 to 150m of visibility of traffic coming the opposite way.

Best guess as to potential causes of accident....

  1. SMIDSY
  2. SMIDGAF
  3. Blinded by the Sun
  4. Complete misjudgement of the speed the riders were travelling at.

But the writing in the Huddersfield examiner is completely car centered, but that is bog standard in the press these days.

Avatar
kil0ran | 6 years ago
5 likes

Oh look, a black VW Golf. What is it with VWs & Audis?

 

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don simon fbpe replied to kil0ran | 6 years ago
11 likes
kil0ran wrote:

Oh look, a black VW Golf. What is it with VWs & Audis?

 

You've lost me.

Is this one of those sweeping bullshit statements, like "cyclist ride on pavements and are a threat to pedestrians", that we so hate?

Avatar
3mkru73 replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
1 like
don simon wrote:
kil0ran wrote:

Oh look, a black VW Golf. What is it with VWs & Audis?

 

You've lost me.

Is this one of those sweeping bullshit statements, like "cyclist ride on pavements and are a threat to pedestrians", that we so hate?

Lost me too. I actually find Audi drivers to be very considerate in the whole, and fine up here in the Newcastle Upon Tyne... 

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cdamian replied to kil0ran | 6 years ago
2 likes
kil0ran wrote:

Oh look, a black VW Golf. What is it with VWs & Audis?

They are cars.

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Dunhoy replied to kil0ran | 6 years ago
1 like
kil0ran wrote:

Oh look, a black VW Golf. What is it with VWs & Audis?

 

Your point is what exactly? Idiotic comments such as yours do not help.

The problem is with car drivers who do not look for cyclists or more often than not misjudge their closing speed. The problem is not with a brand of car!

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ClubSmed replied to Dunhoy | 6 years ago
1 like
Dunhoy wrote:
kil0ran wrote:

Oh look, a black VW Golf. What is it with VWs & Audis?

 

Your point is what exactly? Idiotic comments such as yours do not help.

The problem is with car drivers who do not look for cyclists or more often than not misjudge their closing speed. The problem is not with a brand of car!

Although we do know that several brands/models of car have massive blind spots so it could be argued that the could be a problem with the brand of car.

 

*I do not know if VW suffer from this, I am just pointing out that some cars do have relevent issues

Avatar
Canyon48 | 6 years ago
6 likes

That's utterly horrendous.

"Driver didn't see them" and somehow turned across the road and drove head-on into them. That's quite unbelievable.

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