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One cyclist killed, another seriously hurt, in separate collisions involving tractorsBroken bike (CC licensed image by garryknight, www.flickr.com)

One cyclist killed, another seriously hurt, in separate collisions involving tractors

Fatal incident in Suffolk on Friday happened hours after head-on crash near Aviemore
by Simon_MacMichael
Sun, Aug 25, 2019 15:44
7

Police have launched an appeal for witnesses after a cyclist died following a collision involving a tractor in Lincolnshire.

The fatal crash happened in Fen Street, Redgrave, at around 9.40am on the morning of Friday 23 August.

The cyclist was taken to West Suffolk Hospital for treatment but died from his injuries yesterday.

Suffolk Police said that next of kin had been informed and named the victim as Leonard Bates, aged 67, and from the Ingham area.

When police released their statement yesterday, Mr Bates had not yet been formally identified.

Anyone who saw the incident or has any information, including dashcam or similar footage, us asked to contact the Serious Collision Team at Suffolk Police on 101 quoting reference CAD 79 of 23 August.

Separately, a cyclist was seriously injured following another incident involving a tractor in the Scottish Highlands on Thursday.

Police said the cyclist, a 43-year-old man, was riding east and the tractor being driven west when the collision happened at 7.15pm on Carr Road in Carrbridge, around 10 kilometres north of Aviemore.

He was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment following the incident, and was subsequently transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was said to be in a serious condition.

Sergeant David Miller said: "We are working to establish the full circumstances of this collision and anyone who may be able to help is asked to come forward.

"I would appeal to anyone who may have seen the tractor or a group of bicycles on the road prior to the collision to get in touch," he added.

"Anyone who could help our enquiries can call 101, quoting reference NM1637/19."

Police Scotland
Suffolk Police
Simon MacMichael

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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7 comments

Avatar
trevorparsons | 5 years ago
0 likes

Accuracy requires a slight correction to this tragic story -- the first sentence misplaces Redgrave in Lincolnshire, whereas the slugline correctly refers to Suffolk. (If subsequently corrected please remove this comment).

Avatar
Capercaillie | 5 years ago
1 like

Problem with many tractor drivers is that they have the same "must get in front" attitude as when driving a car but they forget they haven't got the acceleration to overtake a bike that's not travelling much more slowly than them. I've had some close calls when they've pulled back in when a lorry appears on the on the other side of the road!

Avatar
bikeman01 | 5 years ago
4 likes

Never ceases to amaze me how many tractors I come across that drive around with their forks lowered. Very dangerous and liable to make a nasty mess of anything in their path.

I guess if commonsense were present they wouldn't be a farm hand.

 

Avatar
Griff500 replied to bikeman01 | 5 years ago
3 likes
bikeman01 wrote:

Never ceases to amaze me how many tractors I come across that drive around with their forks lowered. Very dangerous and liable to make a nasty mess of anything in their path.

I guess if commonsense were present they wouldn't be a farm hand.

 

And this anecdote has what to do with either of the reported incidents? Never ceases to amaze me how posters on here make stuff up.

Avatar
vonhelmet replied to bikeman01 | 5 years ago
3 likes
bikeman01 wrote:

Never ceases to amaze me how many tractors I come across that drive around with their forks lowered. Very dangerous and liable to make a nasty mess of anything in their path.

I guess if commonsense were present they wouldn't be a farm hand.

 

Until and unless you're going to grow all your own food, you need farmhands, so I don't know where you get off mocking them.

Avatar
Griff500 replied to bikeman01 | 5 years ago
1 like
bikeman01 wrote:

Never ceases to amaze me how many tractors I come across that drive around with their forks lowered. Very dangerous and liable to make a nasty mess of anything in their path.

I guess if commonsense were present they wouldn't be a farm hand.

 

If common sense were present you wouldn't criticise somebody else's profession from a position of ignorance.

Common sense, not to mention hse guidelines, dictate that tractors with front end loaders travelling on the road should have sharp attachments covered or folded back, and the loader lowered to keep c of g down.

"Keep the centre of gravity of the loader as low as possible to improve stability. Positioning the loader in the lowered position will also improve visibility and aid driver observation from the cab. "

Avatar
bikeman01 replied to Griff500 | 5 years ago
1 like

Griff500 wrote:
bikeman01 wrote:

Never ceases to amaze me how many tractors I come across that drive around with their forks lowered. Very dangerous and liable to make a nasty mess of anything in their path.

I guess if commonsense were present they wouldn't be a farm hand.

 

If common sense were present you wouldn't criticise somebody else's profession from a position of ignorance. Common sense, not to mention hse guidelines, dictate that tractors with front end loaders travelling on the road should have sharp attachments covered or folded back, and the loader lowered to keep c of g down. "Keep the centre of gravity of the loader as low as possible to improve stability. Positioning the loader in the lowered position will also improve visibility and aid driver observation from the cab. "

 

I am aware of the broad guidelines  - it's a shame that most tractor drivers are not or don't give a toss, so I don't think I am ignorant in this respect.

As for criticising their common sense I think it's fully justified against anyone who drives around in a 2 ton vehicle down narrow lanes whilst making no attempt to cover the fucking great 4 foot spikes pointing directly out in front of them at chest/head height. 

Now get back to your cows and don't be so sensitive.

 

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