Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Cyclist dies after Norfolk crash that also claimed driver's lifeBroken bike (CC licensed image by garryknight, www.flickr.com)

Cyclist dies after Norfolk crash that also claimed driver's life

Police repeat witness appeal after 31-year-old Essex woman dies from injuries sustained last Thursday
by Simon_MacMichael
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 13:57
8

It has been revealed that the cyclist involved in a collision with a car in Norfolk last Thursday that left the driver of the vehicle dead has died in hospital from her injuries. Norfolk Constabulary are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the incident.

The cyclist, a 31-year-old woman from Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, died in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, on Saturday, reports BBC News.

She had been taken by helicopter to the hospital following the incident at 4.20pm last Thursday 11 April. The 84-year-old male driver of the car involved, who was from Sheringham, Norfolk, died at the scene.

According to a witness appeal from Norfolk Constabulary: “Officers are keen to speak to anyone who may have spotted a green/silver coloured cycle [a Dawes Galaxy] travelling towards Swaffham, the manner of driving of the Micra or witnessed the incident itself.

“They should contact the Serious Collision Investigation Team at Wymondham roads policing on the non-emergency 101 number.”

Norfolk
Norfolk Constabulary
Simon MacMichael

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.

Add new comment

8 comments

Avatar
jollygoodvelo | 11 years ago
0 likes

It's a tragic event whether or not it was caused by infirmity on the part of the driver: and that may be an assumption, but it's statistically more likely given their age and therefore a good initial theory.

I'm sure that the coroner's report will contain the results of the driver's post-mortem and the victim's family will have that explanation.

Bit of a worry though isn't it - we wear hi-vis (sometimes) and lights (when appropriate), but if the driver of the car that comes up behind you is asleep (permanently or otherwise) what can you do?

Avatar
tired old fart | 11 years ago
0 likes

oh no the driver who caused the death of a cyclist has died 20 boo fucking hoo they caused the death of the cyclist either by driving when medicaly unfit or by being an idiot either by the manner of driving or being drunk at the wheel the car driver got what they deserved simple as that.

Avatar
jijiandnoah replied to tired old fart | 11 years ago
0 likes
tired old fart wrote:

oh no the driver who caused the death of a cyclist has died 20 boo fucking hoo they caused the death of the cyclist either by driving when medicaly unfit or by being an idiot either by the manner of driving or being drunk at the wheel the car driver got what they deserved simple as that.

And this - ladies and gentlemen - is exactly the kind of stupid, myopic and plain unpleasant partisan shit that gives cyclists a bad name. I don't know what else to say, except that if you can't feel one shred of compassion for a man dying in an accident because they are a car driver - without even knowing the facts! - then I'd say its a good bet you're probably a sociopath

Avatar
Mat Brett replied to tired old fart | 11 years ago
0 likes
tired old fart wrote:

oh no the driver who caused the death of a cyclist has died 20 boo fucking hoo they caused the death of the cyclist either by driving when medicaly unfit or by being an idiot either by the manner of driving or being drunk at the wheel the car driver got what they deserved simple as that.

For real? This comment is a new low.

Avatar
Stumps | 11 years ago
0 likes

My dad is 77 years old, cycles over 50 miles a week and has nigh on perfect vision.

He drives a car and is a very safe, competent driver.

Accidents happen and i agree with Gkam on this it sounds like his age caught up with him. But saying that i know of 20 odd year olds dying of a heart attack whilst driving so you just dont know and it would be wrong to speculate or accuse any further.

Avatar
John John | 11 years ago
0 likes

Sorry but are most 84 year old's still fit to safely operate lethal machinery? GPs have to ensure that all drivers of such age are fit and safe to drive particularly with regard to other road users and pedestrians. The GPs should not take a lenient view just because a patient may have been known to them for several years; and/or they live in a remote or rural area; it's the easiest option than to notify the DSA that a patient is in their opinion 'no longer fit to drive'.

Avatar
jijiandnoah replied to John John | 11 years ago
0 likes
John John wrote:

Sorry but are most 84 year old's still fit to safely operate lethal machinery?

Massive (and frankly ageist) assumption that this has to have been the driver's fault, rather than - for example as Gkam pointed out - a tragic accident. Jumping to these kinds of "it has to be bad driving" conclusions doesn't help anyone especially in cases like this where two families have lost loved ones

Avatar
Gkam84 | 11 years ago
0 likes

Very sad to hear, unusual that the driver also died, being that the driver was 84 and died at the scene makes me think it was a medical condition.

I don't want to speculate any further, but this could be a sad accident rather than anyone's fault 2

Latest Comments