Friends have paid tribute to Stephanie Turner, the 29-year-old physiotherapist who last week became the 13th person to die on Britain's roads this year.
Ms Turner was involved in a collision with a tipper truck shortly before 8am on Tuesday January 20 at the junction of Bethune Road and Amhurst Park in N16. She died at the scene.
Described as a keen and experienced cyclist, Ms Turner was on her way to a patient appointment when she was killed, according to Anna Dubuis in the Evening Standard.
She loved being able to ride between clinics as part of her job. She recently posted on Facebook: “Today my job has required me to cycle through Regents Park, Hyde Park, Baker Street and Oxford Circus. Best job ever!”
Ms Turner was a keen runner, climber and triathlete. She was engaged to fellow athletics enthusiast Ian Pibworth and shared a house with him and several friends.
Schoolfriend Natalie Sharpe told the Standard: “Steph and Ian had plans together for the future and were going to move but she delayed it because she loved living in London so much and riding from clinic to clinic. She was a real outdoors person, she did marathons, she swam, she cycled, she climbed mountains.
“When I found out last week I couldn’t believe it. It’s devastating. We had big plans for this year as a whole group of our school friends are turning 30. She referred to us as the ‘Devon girls’, she had so many friends from all over the place. We love her to bits. Everyone just loved her.
“She would walk into a room and without even trying everyone would be smiling. She could brighten up a room. She was naturally kind and funny. We would have crazy nights out and in. We are going to miss her, she was very precious.”
Many of Ms Turner's friends left tributes on her Facebook page.
Michelle Coles wrote: “There really aren’t enough words to describe what an amazing person Stephanie Turner was.
“She brightened up everyone’s lives who knew her and was like one of the sisters I never had. We love you mate and you will never ever be forgotten.”
The driver of the lorry was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Campaign group Stop Killing Cyclists is tonight organising a vigil and die-in for Stephanie Turner.
The group will meet at 6:00pm at the junction of Amhurst Park and Seven Sisters road, with a ride to the protest leaving Ludgate circus at 17:30.
"We ask as many of you as possible to attend and to remember our fellow cyclist as well as highlighting the need for space and decent infrastructure for cyclists," said the organisers.
Full details on Stop Killing Cyclists' Facebook page.
2 thoughts on “Tributes paid to physiotherapist killed in lorry crash – vigil tonight in North London”
RIP.
Another needless death
RIP.
Another needless death caused by a reckless and irresponsible driver and/or LGV operator, based on police suspection.
no matter how much education & enforcement we have, it will never protect people on bikes against careless or reckless drivers. Segregation will make people safer and feel safer.
I would love to see a design
I would love to see a design for segregation that would have sorted that hazard out.
I have a very strong suspicion that this joins the deaths of Richard Muzira, Francis Golding, Wan Chen McGuinness, Ellie Carey, where a left turning driver of a large vehicle has made the move from the right hand lane, forcing priority (ie you’d better stop or my truck will crush you/your car) over traffic legitimately travelling in the left hand lane. There is a clear case to review all major junctions across London where a left turn of over 90 degrees is being made, and to do this a the driver of a large truck approaches on the right hand side of the road, or part of the carriageway.
The investigation MUST ask where the truck was going and whay it had to make the severe left turn – I’d estimate it to be a 150 degree ‘hairpin’ bend. Left turns like this for large vehicles should be banned and alternatives provided. The 279 bus already does a U turn – every trip across this 6 lane dual carriageway, itseslf not exactly a safe move as currently carried out. Perhaps trucks should turn at the same point, and a safer U turn arrangement set-up?