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Former Tour of Britain winner injured after being knocked off bike on “death trap” Shropshire road

Tony Hewson left unconscious after incident on road where John Searle lost his life two years ago

Tony Hewson, winner of the 1955 Tour of Britain, has suffered serious head injuries after being knocked from his bike while riding near his home in Shropshire. The incident last Friday, which left him unconscious, happened on the same stretch of road where cyclist John Searle was killed last year.

The trial of the two motorists involved in that collision, Pamela Willocks and Russel Davies, ended on Monday with both acquitted of causing death by careless driving.

Sheffield-born Mr Hewson, aged 80, was struck by a car’s wing mirror as he rode his bike on the B4368 Corvedale Road, near Craven Arms, reports the Shropshire Star.

His daughter Justine, who lives in Berkshire, journeyed to Shropshire to be with her father who has been discharged from hospital and described the road as a "death trap."

She told the newspaper: “He has been cycling all his life. He won the Tour of Britain in the 1950s, and has ridden in the Tour de France.

“He was on a training ride and was returning home at about 3.30pm, coming out of Diddlebury.

"He was hit by a black Audi and he was knocked into the road, unconscious for a time.

"The ambulance arrived after 45 minutes and he was taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

"He had a serious head injury as well as whiplash and cuts and bruises. He had a bleed on the brain and we feared the worst.

"But thankfully by some miracle he's rallied and he's back home in a battered and bruised state, recovering the best he can.

"He's extremely lucky to be alive," she added, saying that the incident happened by the home of volunteer West Midlands Ambulance Service First Responder John Caine, who lives by the scene of the incident.

Ms Hewson explained: "He was off duty at the time and in the garden. He was lying in the road holding my dad's neck in place when the ambulance arrived.

“My dad was went into shock and was extremely cold and he wrapped him up and stopped hypothermia. His knowledge was invaluable really."

Mr Caine said: "I saw the traffic slow down very quickly and went out to have a look, and saw him on the roadside. I checked him all over and made sure his neck was secured. I could tell the helmet had been damaged.

"Once the paramedic arrived I got warm towels while we waited for a spinal board."

Ms Hewson has called for safety measures to be introduced on the road to protect cyclists. She said:  "It's an extremely dangerous road. Not only push bikes, but motorbikes and cars have been involved in accidents there.

"It's very twisty and bendy and we want to raise awareness for all road users - it is a designated cycle route, it really should be a safe place, not a death trap.”

Her appeal was echoed by the newspaper in an editorial that noted that Mr Searle, who like Mr Hewson was struck by a car’s wing mirror – he was then hit by a second vehicle - “was out riding his bike, enjoying the best of Shropshire’s beautiful countryside, when a tragic incident took his life.”

It added that while that incident took place two years ago, “though the road on which he suffered critical injuries remains popular with cyclists” but has not been made any safer.

The newspaper said: “The Corvedale has a notorious reputation and there have been numerous fatal accidents through the years. As an increasing number of people take to the roads on bicycles, more must be done to ensure their safety.

“Better signage, rumble strips and improved road management are among the modifications that the county’s engineers might consider. There is a responsibility to ensure that the accidents affecting Mr Searle and Mr Hewson are not repeated in future,” it added.

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.

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13 comments

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notfastenough | 9 years ago
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Being hit by the wing mirror made me think that riding further out into the road would prevent this, but Simon E mentions that it's "twisting, rural and narrow", so I guess that's not going to help if a driver goes round a bend too quickly and doesn't see you until the last minute - you'll just end up on the bonnet instead.

Get well soon Tony, I hope you still manage to get back out on the bike.

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Bigfoz | 9 years ago
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Simon E - disagree. Most drivers assume that 60mph means they won't get caught on a speed camera until at least 66+, and drive accordingly.

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BBB | 9 years ago
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There's no such thing as "dangerous road".

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dreamlx10 replied to BBB | 9 years ago
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BBB wrote:

There's no such thing as "dangerous road".

Spot on, I'm fed up with "roads" being called dangerous. It's the drivers.

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Some Fella | 9 years ago
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Yeah - 'better signage' - that'll do the trick.
 29

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WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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Paul Hewson (aka Bono) in NYC.. Tony Hewson in Shropshire.. It'll be a whole set of Sarah Connors next.

Joking aside. Get well soon Tony.

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Grubbythumb | 9 years ago
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Get well soon Tony.

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Simon E | 9 years ago
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Get well soon Tony.

The Corvedale road runs through a beautiful part of south Shropshire, on the southern side of Wenlock Edge. Unfortunately far too many drivers do not treat this twisting, narrow rural B-road with respect.

'In Pursuit of Stardom', Tony's book about his pioneering exploits on the continent is both brilliantly entertaining and eye-opening. After reading a dog-eared copy from the library I was so taken with it that I ordered a signed copy from the man himself. It is one of very few cycling books that I want to read more than once.

http://www.mousehold-press.co.uk/detail_stardom.cfm

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ChairRDRF replied to Simon E | 9 years ago
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Simon E wrote:

Get well soon Tony.

The Corvedale road runs through a beautiful part of south Shropshire, on the southern side of Wenlock Edge. Unfortunately far too many drivers do not treat this twisting, narrow rural B-road with respect.

'In Pursuit of Stardom', Tony's book about his pioneering exploits on the continent is both brilliantly entertaining and eye-opening. After reading a dog-eared copy from the library I was so taken with it that I ordered a signed copy from the man himself. It is one of very few cycling books that I want to read more than once.

http://www.mousehold-press.co.uk/detail_stardom.cfm

You can say that again, cracker of a book in terms of social history as well as a good view of the life of one of the first Brits to try their look on the continent.

Get well soon Mr Hewson.

And on the central point: this shows that safety for cyclists (and others) on rural roads is an absolutely key issue. it isn't just an urban issue.

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brooksby replied to Simon E | 9 years ago
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Simon E wrote:

... Unfortunately far too many drivers do not treat this twisting, narrow rural B-road with respect.

Far too many drivers think that if a road has a 60 mph speed limit ('national speed limit') then the powers-that-be have decided that its safe to drive at anything up to 60 mph on it (which in a way I guess they have...), and caution and common sense be damned.

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cavasta replied to Simon E | 9 years ago
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Simon E wrote:

'In Pursuit of Stardom', Tony's book about his pioneering exploits on the continent is both brilliantly entertaining and eye-opening. After reading a dog-eared copy from the library I was so taken with it that I ordered a signed copy from the man himself. It is one of very few cycling books that I want to read more than once.

http://www.mousehold-press.co.uk/detail_stardom.cfm

Tony's book is a classic in the field. It's a brilliant first-hand account of a very different world. An absolute must read for anyone with even a remote interest in the sport.

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djfleming22 | 9 years ago
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Its terrible hearing about incidents like this, there's just no protection out there for cyclist, if were not trying to dodge potholes were breathing in when cars only give us a foot of space the sooner they change the law were the car driver is presumed guilty the better, we might get some more space ... i hope

Get well soon Tony

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Housecathst | 9 years ago
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Have I read that wrong ? A local paper, in support of cycling. Mental.

Best wishes to Hewson. Heal fast.

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