Tributes have been paid to a “vital member of the Scottish cycling community” and “one of cycling’s good guys”, Iain McTavish, after he was killed by a motorist during a club ride on Tuesday evening.
46-year-old McTavish, a member of Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club, was cycling with two clubmates on the A8 in Port Glasgow, in the west of Scotland, on Tuesday 8 September at around 7.10pm when he was fatally struck by the driver of a Ford C-Max Zetec. He died at the scene.
The two other cyclists, aged 37 and 27, were also involved in the collision and taken to hospital to be treated, along with the driver, who has since been released.
On Wednesday morning, Johnstone Wheelers confirmed in a social media post that McTavish had been killed the previous night.
“Today we’re all reeling from the awful news yesterday,” the club said in a statement. “Iain McTavish was killed yesterday evening whilst riding with the bunch.
“This will take a long time to sink in and process, but for now suffice it to say that we are devastated at the loss of one of cycling’s good guys. RIP Iain.”
Scottish Cycling also paid tribute to the 46-year-old, the governing body saying it was “heartbroken” at the news.
“Iain was a vital member of the Scottish Cycling community, a member of Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club, a stalwart of the Renfrew bunch and Georgetown TTs,” Scottish Cycling said.
“Iain was the only person to have attended every round of Track League last year and stood as rider rep on their committee. A reliable and friendly face that you knew would be at the meet point of a ride even if nobody else showed up.
“The messages highlighting his positive influence on so many people are already pouring in, and his loss will be felt heavily in the west of Scotland. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and everyone who knew him.”
In a statement, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A man has died following a crash on the A8 in Port Glasgow. Around 7:10pm on Tuesday, September 8, we received a report of a collision involving a blue Ford C-Max Zetec and three cyclists on the westbound carriageway, between the Langbank and Woodhead roundabouts.
“Emergency services attended, and a male cyclist, aged 46, died at the scene. Two other male cyclists, aged 37 and 27, were taken to hospital.
“The male driver of the Ford vehicle, aged 33, was also taken to hospital but has since been released. The A8 has reopened and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
> Motorist charged after two cyclists killed in suspected hit-and-run Kent collision
Tuesday’s tragic incident in Port Glasgow comes just two days after two cyclists were killed and a third injured in a collision with a motorist while out on a Sunday morning ride in Kent.
Following the crash, which took place in Cobham, near Gravesend, two of the three cyclists – one a man in his 60s and the other a woman in her 50s – were pronounced dead at the scene.
On Wednesday, Kent Police announced that Aaron Turner, a 22-year-old from Higham, has since been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision, and possession of a class C drug.
A 21-year-old man and 19-year-old woman have been released on bail while enquiries continue.
