Two British cyclists have been killed after a driver crashed into a club ride in Trinidad & Tobago.
Joanna Banks, aged 40 and a manager at BP’s operations in the Caribbean country, was thrown into a ditch by the impact of the fatal collision yesterday morning.
Joe Brown a well-known chef who rana a restaurant in Port of Spain, was also killed in the crash on the capital's Beetham Highway.
Both were among 14 riders from the Slipstream Cycling Club taking part in a regular group ride.
According to Guardian.co.tt local residents initially focused on helping Brown who seemed to be the most seriously injured of the cyclists, since they were unaware that Banks was in the ditch.
The newspaper said that she was pronounced dead at the scene, although it is unclear whether her death was due to injuries sustained in the collision itself, or whether she drowned. Brown was declared dead upon arrival at hospital.
Nine other cyclists were injured, with three of them reported to be in critical condition.
The driver, Junior McIntyre, reportedly told police that he lost control of his Kia Spectra car due to a puncture.
Brown has sponsored road safety charity Arrive Alive’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in past years.
The charity’s president, Sharon Inglefield, said: “Our condolences go out to the families of the loved ones lost on the Beetham this morning. Our condolences to the cycling fraternity. We are devastated by today’s events. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
Speaking of Brown’s support for the charity, she said it was “tragic he should lose his life on our roads.
“Our roads continue to be a dangerous environment and we all have a responsibility, more particularly drivers, to respect vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians.” she added.
BP Trinidad & Tobago also paid tribute to the victims through social media.
While I always have lights on day and night and wear fluro, I have a friend that wears all black all the time and doesn't use lights ever. His...
A sad case, and one with no winners. The driver can thank her lucky stars that the cyclist wasn't more seriously injured and that the court was...
Bloody hell... How are you doing now?
And I liked endura too. Got a nice long sleeve mostly merino long sleeve a little while back, in orange.
No, the Ebay lights have been around for several years, this Lezyne light just appeared.
They shouldn't worry - the second part of the "tariff" refrain is "they can make it in US and they'll do very well".
"At the going down of the sun, it will get in our eyes and cause us to crash into things."
Been living in the area thirty years now and Brixton Cycles (and local riders wearing their famed Rastafarian colours jersey) has been an iconic...
Indeed - but again these are perhaps questions we should keep asking. Even if the immediate answer is "well we are where we are" or "how on earth...