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Cyclist dies 18 months after being crushed by tanker

Young woman loses fight for life following double amputation

A young Polish woman who was crushed by a lorry in Aberdeen 18 months ago, has died two days after her infected legs were amputated in a bid to save her life reports the Scotsman.

Milena Gott, 22, suffered severe injuries to her legs and pelvis when knocked off her bike by a Carntyne Transport tanker lorry on a busy roundabout in July 2009.

When the case came before Aberdeen Sheriff Court, lorry driver Richard Fox said he did not check his mirrors properly and did not see the cyclist. He admitted driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users, thereby causing the accident at Garthdee roundabout on July 2, 2009. He received a £340 fine and had five penalty points added to his licence.

During her extensive and painful treatment, Milena underwent a succession of skin grafts and other operations but died in Glasgow Royal Infirmary on Saturday, two days after her legs were amputated.

Her sister Alice, 29, told the Scotsman: "She was fighting for 18 months in hospital, but her injuries were just too much. The doctors had to amputate her legs as the infection became so bad.

"But just two days after the operation she didn't wake up. It was too much for her body to handle. The operation was too tough for her heart. She couldn't fight it any more."

Ms Gott had moved to Aberdeen to study at Aberdeen University and following the accident was initially treated at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary before eventually being transferred to Glasgow for specialist treatment.

She had been told by doctors several months after her treatment began that she would never be able to walk again but still clung on to some thoughts of a life beyond a hospital bed.

Last October, prior to her transfer to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, she said: "My whole body still hurts, but I am just taking each day at a time."

"I have given up hope of getting out any time soon. I just hope to start studying the university course in hospital. I think if I can start my studies again and do work in hospital it will help me."

After Ms Gott’s death her sister said: "We are all so upset. She was a lovely girl, who was so clever and happy before the accident. She was the best sister I could have ever asked for. My mum is heartbroken.

"She was an amazing person who didn't deserve any of this. She was always there if I needed her. It's absolutely devastating. She was loved so much and she will never be forgotten."

Ms Gott's funeral is to be held at the Maryhill Crematorium in Glasgow, on Thursday.
 

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A V Lowe | 13 years ago
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A police instructor (Class 1 Car & Motorcycle) did highlight to our group that in every collision BOTH parties carry some degree of responsibility.

Worth reflecting that although the primary cause of the injuries and subsequent death was the route taken by the tanker driver, the position of the cyclist relative to the larger vehicle at the junction was to some extent controlled by the cyclist.

On a motorway for example the prudent driver does not roll up to the end of a queue of stopped vehicles but holds back to be certain that the vehicles arriving behind them are either stopped or slowing and controlled to stop before hitting the rear of the queue, if an approaching vehicle shows signs of not stopping in time you then have space to mitigate or avoid the crash, rather than getting squeezed like a zit.

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A V Lowe | 13 years ago
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Carntyne Transport has been prompted about tomorrow's funeral, but as yet no statement or condolences expressed publicly.

Would it be an expected or appropriate action from the company, or is this something we should not expect in the circumstances?

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mrchrispy | 13 years ago
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Poor girl.

The sad fact is that society is all to ready to accept road deaths/serious injuries are all part of the deal.
4 guys were killed in a factory accident the other week, you know for a fact that the Health and Safety Executive are all over it, there will be an investigation and its very likely there will be repercussions for the company.
Had a company vehicle killed 4 people it'll just be treated as an accident.....sure, the driver might get some points, a fine, maybe a short ban but there is very little comeback for the company.

It's been said it before....if you're going to kill someone just make sure it happens on the road.

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Mark Appleton | 13 years ago
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I think it is worth reiterating that this story came to its awful conclusion long after the case had been heard in court. Yes, I agree that even in retrospect the sentence passed seems utterly inadequate given the nature of her injuries and the suffering this poor woman went through before she died and no doubt we will return to the subject of light sentencing in future.

But maybe a better way of remembering her and trying to salvage something good from what is a desperately tragic story is, as alluded to by AV Lowe, to maintain the pressure on the authorities and the haulage companies themselves over the issues of adequate driver training and the use of blindspot mirrors.

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gazzaputt | 13 years ago
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£340 the price a judge sets for loosing your legs?

Ok judge wasn't to know the girl would eventually die of here injuries.

This countries judges are a complete joke.

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Titivulus | 13 years ago
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RIP brave lady. Anyone who wants to contemplate what she must have gone through for the last 18 months should read 'A Voice Through a Cloud' by Denton Welch - mown down on the Brighton Road, Croydon on a clear day in 1935. One of England's most gifted writers. I want all members of the Crown Prosecution Service to read it.

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davebinks | 13 years ago
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"The price of one life - £340. And five penalty points."

Well, that's a lot more than the driver who killed the lads at Rhyll got a couple of years ago.
He went on on icy roads on his bald tyres and drove too fast round a bend and killed 4 cyclists.
His fine was 30 points and worked out at £60/life. He didn't even bother going to court.

So we're getting somewhere  39

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A V Lowe | 13 years ago
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Perhaps Carntyne Transport and their key tanker clients - the Scottish whisky industry can match the efforts of RMC in driver training and awareness. It won't heal the immediate loss but it will move to prevent any family having to suffer in the future.

Your move John Russell? (owners of Carntyne Transport) - based in Springburn just up the road from the Glasgow Infirmary. http://www.carntyne-transport.co.uk/about/about.html. Perhaps a statement of condolence?

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italiafirenze | 13 years ago
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The price of one life - £340. And five penalty points.

Perhaps the government can introduce penalty points for other violent and deadly acts; once you get to twelve, prison for a year.

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OldRidgeback | 13 years ago
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Dreadful

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