Soldiers’ desperate attempt to save life

10:00am Thursday 6th December 2012 in News By Sam McGregor, covering Bicester. Call me on 01869 250197

The roundabout in Bicester on the A41 near Langford The roundabout in Bicester on the A41 near Langford

TWO soldiers have told how they desperately tried to save a cyclist who collided with a car.

Sadly the 48-year-old man, from Banbury, was pronounced dead at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

The incident happened at about 6pm on Tuesday on the A4421 Neunkirchen Way, near the A41 roundabout, at Langford Village, Bicester.

Police said the cyclist was in collision with a silver Ford Escort. The male driver was spoken to by police at the scene.

The victim has not yet been named.

Lieutenants Ben Scarfe, 24, and Rob Charters, 23, were just returning to St David’s Barracks in Bicester after a run when they heard a crash.

Lt Scarfe said: “We ran over and realised a chap had been knocked off his bike.

“The guy driving the car was in shock and I went over to him and told him to call an ambulance.

“Rob went over to the cyclist and we realised he was in a bad way.

“I’m currently training for Heric 18 and that includes medical training, so I was able to utilise that training and help the chap.”

A trainee paramedic also joined the pair and together they were able to give the victim CPR.

Lt Charters, who has basic first aid training, said: “When we first heard the crash, there was not a thought, we both sprinted over.

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“Ben fell over because we were trying to get there as quickly as possible.

“A lot of people stopped and offered to help, which was very good to see.”

Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Sgt Julie Daglish, investigating the incident, said: “This collision happened on a busy road and I am keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision, or saw the car or cyclist beforehand.”

There have also been calls to reduce the 50mph speed limit on Neunkirchen Way, which runs along the side of housing estate Langford Village.

One post on the Oxford Mail website from ‘caversfield’, said: “A very dangerous roundabout for cyclists due to the four lanes you have to cross.

“Eight to get to where you want to be, add the 50/60 limit and it’s hell.”

Another from Aidan Williams said: “Sad news, the speed limit on that road needs to be reduced from 50mph to 30mph.

“I cycle along that road regularly and have had several near misses, even though I wear a fluorescent yellow jacket and have lights on my bike.”

Oxfordshire County Council, which looks after the roads, was unavailable to comment.

Anyone with any information should contact Sgt Daglish via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or view crimestoppers-uk.org

In September 2009, 47-year-old Ian Blake had been riding a blue Suzuki when he was hit by a car turning right.

Driver Stephen Hodgkinson, then 27, of Banbury, admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. He was spared jail by Oxford Crown Court and given 150 hours’ unpaid work and banned from driving for a year.

Comments (4)

10:06am Thu 6 Dec 12

angel.cake says...

Changing the limit would have made no difference in this case, the accident happened right by the roundabout so traffic would have slowed anyway. The problem is that it is hell trying to get on that roundabout so people take risks. Perhaps the police would be better off with their cameras there rather than sitting on the dead-end road further up, trying to catch out motorists on a road that has had no accidents.
Changing the limit would have made no difference in this case, the accident happened right by the roundabout so traffic would have slowed anyway. The problem is that it is hell trying to get on that roundabout so people take risks. Perhaps the police would be better off with their cameras there rather than sitting on the dead-end road further up, trying to catch out motorists on a road that has had no accidents. angel.cake

11:26am Thu 6 Dec 12

snert says...

"There have also been calls to reduce the 50mph speed limit on Neunkirchen Way, which runs along the side of housing estate Langford Village"

The media love this phrase. "There have been calls for..." Who calls for these? Dropping the speed limit there to 30 is absurd. People drive along that road at 70 quite often, which is way too fast but 50 is adequate. This is a road that genuinely needs a speed camera or two on it, if anything to stop the bikers doing their weekly speed trials on it on a Sunday.

This road has been used by the chavs of Bicester for a long time to see how short a time they can do the Launton roundabout to the A41 roundabout. It's dangerous road which is rarely ever policed.

I've cycled that road and it is dangerous. There is a cycle path on the pathway. I stand to be corrected here but does it not run the entire length from the Launton roundabout to the A41 roundabout?

The worst part of that road is the A41 roundabout where idiots sit in the left hand lane coming off "that unpronounceable road name by Langford" and turning right onto the A41 flyover and they wonder why they get cut up. Since when do you sit in a left hand lane on a roundabout to turn right?
"There have also been calls to reduce the 50mph speed limit on Neunkirchen Way, which runs along the side of housing estate Langford Village" The media love this phrase. "There have been calls for..." Who calls for these? Dropping the speed limit there to 30 is absurd. People drive along that road at 70 quite often, which is way too fast but 50 is adequate. This is a road that genuinely needs a speed camera or two on it, if anything to stop the bikers doing their weekly speed trials on it on a Sunday. This road has been used by the chavs of Bicester for a long time to see how short a time they can do the Launton roundabout to the A41 roundabout. It's dangerous road which is rarely ever policed. I've cycled that road and it is dangerous. There is a cycle path on the pathway. I stand to be corrected here but does it not run the entire length from the Launton roundabout to the A41 roundabout? The worst part of that road is the A41 roundabout where idiots sit in the left hand lane coming off "that unpronounceable road name by Langford" and turning right onto the A41 flyover and they wonder why they get cut up. Since when do you sit in a left hand lane on a roundabout to turn right? snert

12:41pm Thu 6 Dec 12

King Joke says...

Since when is Neunkirchen unpronounceable? Noin-keer-shen. There you go.

What a sad story. I cycle 50+ miles a week in the summer; there but for the grace of God go I...
Since when is Neunkirchen unpronounceable? Noin-keer-shen. There you go. What a sad story. I cycle 50+ miles a week in the summer; there but for the grace of God go I... King Joke

7:21pm Thu 6 Dec 12

Pavinder Msvarensy says...

Snert as you say 50 is a sensible speed limit. But the ROAD is not dangerous, it is as you also say, the Bicester CHAVS using it as a raceway that are dangerous and need to be stopped. This morning there were 4 police cars with a full complement who came all the way from Bicester to raise money in St Giles, a road with an artificially low speed limit and zero serious accident rate, that the police do not want to enforce. Maybe you should inform them that their time would be better spent catching the real dangerous people on our roads just around the corner from them.
Snert as you say 50 is a sensible speed limit. But the ROAD is not dangerous, it is as you also say, the Bicester CHAVS using it as a raceway that are dangerous and need to be stopped. This morning there were 4 police cars with a full complement who came all the way from Bicester to raise money in St Giles, a road with an artificially low speed limit and zero serious accident rate, that the police do not want to enforce. Maybe you should inform them that their time would be better spent catching the real dangerous people on our roads just around the corner from them. Pavinder Msvarensy

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