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Cyclist dies in lorry crash

10:58am Friday 7th December 2007

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A female cyclist has died after a crash involving a Tesco lorry in Streatham Hill.

Police are appealing for information about the crash that occurred at the junction of Brixton Hill and the A205 Christchurch Road about 7.35pm last night.

Officers say the Tesco articulated lorry was turning at the junction when it collided with the 41-year-old cyclist.

The cyclist died as a result of her injuries.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: "Tesco is carrying out its own investigation into this tragedy, as are the police, so it would be wrong for us to comment further. "However, we would like to extend our sympathies to everyone involved and our condolences to the family of the woman who died." Anyone with information should phone 020 8941 9011.

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Paul Smith, Brixton says...
7:08pm Fri 7 Dec 07

The investigation has absolutely nothing to do with Tesco it should be a police matter. No doubt the Tesco PR machine will bulldoze any adverse publicity. It should be noted that many of these new ‘Metro’ stores are located in very hazardous areas for deliveries. The local one near me still attempts to reverse absolutely massive juggernauts into this small ‘metro’ site. I should imagine the use of larger Lorries saves a lot of money but in very densely populated busy urban areas is probably inappropriate.

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alex, Streatham says...
12:43pm Sat 8 Dec 07

I agree entirely with Paul. A Tesco's "investigation" is at best irrelevant, at worst a PR whitewash exercise. And there are too many huge lorries on the road cuasing traffic chaos and danger. It is less likely that a small delivery van would have been involved in such a horrible death.

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Bill Walker, Brentwood says...
3:38pm Sat 8 Dec 07

I am a Tesco driver operating from the Thurrock depot, and would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family. The site of the accident lies on a main LBTS route for main stores such as Brixton and Kennington not just the smaller Metros, the larger stores have deliveries with 13 or 12 meter trailers whilst the smaller stores get deliveries from 16 tonne ridged vehicles or 8 or 10 meter trailers. The depot does try to deliver the bulk of the goods at night whilst the roads are quieter, however are restricted at certain stores so as not to disturb residents.

I must say that cyclists terrify me when in the city, as a great number of them have no regard for themselves or others, if they try to undertake at lights and junctions, they need to be aware that there is a blind spot for most HGV drivers at that nearside front corner.

As for the investigation, all Tesco drivers involved in an accident are subject to a drink and drugs test, debriefed by managment and suspended pending further investigation, when ready a further interview will take place with representation and so forth until a conclusion is agreed upon. However if a police investigation is ongoing, no final decision will be taken until the end of that investigation. I only pray that I am never involved in such a tragic accident while trying to do my job, I must admit it worries you all the time in London, particularly near bus stops, tubes and traffic lights.

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Chris O'Hearn, Tooting says...
8:48pm Sat 8 Dec 07

Actually I welcome the fact that Tesco is investigating.
If something falls off a building site and kills a passer-by then there is a serious Health and Safety investigation and the company is liable.
If the same company employs a driver or company to shift materials and they kill someone it is just one of those things.
Well done Tesco for taking some responsibility, whatever happened in this case.

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Bill, London says...
12:43pm Sun 9 Dec 07

"I must say that cyclists terrify me when in the city, as a great number of them have no regard for themselves or others"

In other words, you say that cyclists are suicidal. Of the 6 cyclists known to have been killed by collisions with HGVs in London so far this year, 3 are women. Last year 2 female cyclists were killed by HGVs, both were wearing hi-vis clothing and helmets, which hardly suggest lack of regard for their own safety.

http://www.movingtar
getzine.com/article/
cyclist-killing-lorr
y-driver-fined-300

Instead of blaming cyclists for their own deaths, it would be better if the correspondent focussed on improving the safety of LGVs. Retrofitting lorries with the DOBLI mirrors that eliminate the 'blind-spot' referred to would be a start.

http://www.movingtar
getzine.com/article/
retro-fitting-blind-
spot-mirrors-could-s
ave-up-to-100-lives-
a-year

The Euro Parliament is trying get this to happen. National governments are opposing it. The mirrors cost £100.

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Billy, Streatham says...
12:42am Wed 12 Dec 07

nstead of blaming cyclists for their own deaths, it would be better if the correspondent focussed on improving the safety of LGVs. Retrofitting lorries with the DOBLI mirrors that eliminate the 'blind-spot' referred to would be a start.

That's not what the poster said. He simply stated an observation.

must say that cyclists terrify me when in the city, as a great number of them have no regard for themselves or others, if they try to undertake at lights and junctions, they need to be aware that there is a blind spot for most HGV drivers at that nearside front corner.

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Charlie Lloyd, Bermondsey says...
3:15pm Wed 12 Dec 07

As I understand it, all the lorries from Tesco's Thurrock depot are fitted with the latest mirror system that gives them a view all around the front and sides of the lorry.

If the driver didn't see the cyclist it must because he did not look at the right time.

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alex, Streatham says...
1:06pm Thu 13 Dec 07

We don't know whether the she was caught in the blind spot, between by the side of the lorry as it went around the corner. I'm hoping the police investigation will reveal what happened. I suspect not, from the position on the road she was left in.

And I still fail to see what a tesco investigation would add to this. They should be listening to the police investigation report - they will have all the facts that can be known. If tesco has any inofrmation, they should (and have, I hope) handed it over to the police.

And if Tesco is at fault, I don't see why they should be 'applauded' for taking responsibility. That should be a given.

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anon, tulse hill says...
3:28pm Thu 13 Dec 07

I actually witnessed this extremely unfortunate accident last week and must say that the lorry driver is not totally to blame, the cyclist went through a red light (as many cyclists tend to do) and then collided with the lorry. It was an awfull thing to witmess and i will never get forget the sight afterwards. i must say that after reading some of these comments, i totally agree with the people who feel that a huge amount of cyclist in london have no regard for themselves or others. Regardless of the fact that she was wearing full hi-vis cycling gear, these cyclists still ignore red lights and bolt straight through them, they weave in and out of traffic thinking they are imortal as they have 'experience' cycling through london. This is totally besids the point, there are rules and regulations that they should follow and tend not to as they feel too confident on the road. Another loss which could have been avoided.

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anon, balham says...
5:54pm Thu 13 Dec 07

to be honest i think that people are missing the point...someone got killed.some may say it was the cyclist's fault..others the tesco van. but a life was lost. at least show some respect.

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anon, Dulwich says...
7:11pm Sun 16 Dec 07

I completely agree with the above comment....you can go over the situation as much as you like yet it won't change the fact that someone has lost their life and a family has lost their loved one! My thoughts are with the family.

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mark, islington says...
10:52pm Wed 19 Dec 07

I disagree with the last two comments. I agree that going over what happened won't change the grief we feel for Kate and her family, but knowing the truth may change the future. We need to learn from this; both cyclists and lorry drivers. I hope that Anon Tulse Hill gives his or her information to the police. Kate and the driver of the lorry deserve the truth to come out of this.

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Mike, London says...
10:16pm Mon 7 Jan 08

the cyclist went through a red light


This must mean that the lorry also went through the red light then? Can the witness explain how its possible for the cyclist to go through the red light and the lorry not?

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Ross Richardson, Streatham common says...
12:48pm Wed 9 Jan 08

Firstly, utmost sympathies to the family of the cyclist. Terrible.

I feel I should say something on behalf of cyclists who do ride with due regard for rules, others and their lives. I ride through this spot to work every day and respect red lights, right of way and so on, its a given if you want to use the road. There are cyclists and drivers who don't follow the rules and their common sense, they are rather selfish and dangerous. But lets not box all cyclists up as ignorant, red-light-running hell-raisers intent on suicidal riding.

If you see a bad driver you don't criticise every car on the road, its irrational. I'm as infuriated as any driver or pedestrian on the road about dangerous cyclists and have no compunction of shouting after riders who run red lights or ride dangerously. I'm also angry at taxi drivers who drift along half in the bus lane and half out risking my safety. Motorbikes, cars and vans that cut into the bus lane at the last minute to pass traffic, but its not a universal rule. There are bad cyclists, drivers and motorcyclists, there are also good ones.

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