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Accidental death verdict in case of Guernsey cyclist crushed by lorryBroken bike (CC licensed image by garryknight, www.flickr.com)

Accidental death verdict in case of Guernsey cyclist crushed by lorry

Lorry owner fined for using vehicle in dangerous condition
by Alex Bowden
Sat, Sep 12, 2015 17:23
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The death of cyclist David Allison has been ruled accidental following an inquest, reports the BBC. Allison suffered serious chest injuries after he fell from his bike and went under the rear wheels of a lorry in Guernsey in 2013.

Allison, aged 59, was riding on a shared-use footpath at Salerie Corner, St Peter Port, when a lorry turned into a car park entrance. The cyclist braked, but was thrown under the vehicle.

Sergeant Sacha Yabsley, a police accident investigator, did not believe there had been any impact between Mr Allison and the near side of the truck, but noted that the mirrors’ arms had been cut down to bring the mirrors closer. The close proximity mirror on the near side also had no glass in the casing and Yabsley said that both of these factors "adversely effected" the view available.

The lorry's owner – Timothy Le Cheminant – was last month fined after being found guilty of using the lorry in a dangerous condition. However, Yabsley's report said it was likely that at the point of turn "Mr Allison or his cycle, or at the very least part of them, would have been visible".

The driver involved, Nigel Simon, was acquitted of causing death by dangerous driving as well as the lesser charge of driving without due care and attention in 2014 – Judge Sir Christopher Pitchers commenting at the time that there were a lot of variables in the case that would never become clear.

Pitchers did however criticise the layout of the road and cycle path where Allison was killed. The entrance to the car park has since been blocked by bollards. These are only removed to allow large boats to access the slipway into the QEII Marina.

David Allison
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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10 comments

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don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
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You have been let down brother. RIP.

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Airzound | 9 years ago
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Pesky cyclists always getting in the way!

RIP.

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Bokonon | 9 years ago
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Guernsey really is home of the car is king mentality.

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Capt Caveman | 9 years ago
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To be honest, I'm amazed the owner was found guilty of using a lorry in a dangerous condition, especially when you consider there's actually no requirement in Guernsey traffic laws for HGVs to have near side mirrors at all.

Despite David's death in 2013, it took until this summer for the exit to be bollarded off. The local government did try and introduce a cycle friendly transport strategy that included a complete redesign of this junction but thankfully after public bullying of the strategy authors, er I mean "lobbying from various interested parties", the funding was pulled and we're back to the usual car is king mentality.

Will never forget the look on the copper's face when I arrived on the scene 2 There but for the grace of God.

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EddyBerckx | 9 years ago
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Cunts the lot of them

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wycombewheeler | 9 years ago
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so, the hgv turns across the cycle lane which is occupied, and this is acceptable - just accident, no onus on the driver to check it is clear?

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brooksby replied to wycombewheeler | 9 years ago
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wycombewheeler wrote:

so, the hgv turns across the cycle lane which is occupied, and this is acceptable - just accident, no onus on the driver to check it is clear?

Out of interest, I wonder how common shared-use paths are on Guernsey? I'd always got the impression that the Channel Islands are a bit of a throwback for everything except financial jiggery-pokery

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Capt Caveman replied to brooksby | 9 years ago
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brooksby wrote:

Out of interest, I wonder how common shared-use paths are on Guernsey? I'd always got the impression that the Channel Islands are a bit of a throwback for everything except financial jiggery-pokery

There's a couple of miles of shared used pathway between St Sampson & St Peter Port (the two main conurbations) which is essentially a wide payment with a white line down the middle. Other than that, there's the odd contra-flow cycle path on some one way streets which again is simply a painted white line. There is a network of 'Ruettes Tranquilles' which have a non-enforceable recommended 15mph speed limit and give priority to pedestrians, cyclists and horses, but they're mostly in the rural parishes and not particularly useful for commuting.

To be fair, the current Environment Department (the government department in charge of traffic) is pretty pro-cycling and have consulted with local cycling groups on where users would like additional cycle paths but, as I previously mentioned, they had nearly all of their funding pulled after a concerted lobbying effort from the local motor trade association saw their previously approved transport strategy u-turned on by other deputies (who face an election in 6 months time) and everything cycle-friendly has pretty much been put on hold. A real shame, they were so close to really making a difference.

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ron611087 | 9 years ago
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I shall never fail to understand how HGV's are allowed to operate in public space with no safeguards designed into them. Were they industrial machinery on the factory floor they would be banned.

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KiwiHelen | 9 years ago
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Why don't they just say it was the cyclist's fault for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and be done with it. Good grief. #cyclistslivesmatter

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