Cyclist killed in crash

9:34am Monday 6th October 2008 in News Photograph of the Author By Andrew Ffrench, Covering books. Please contact me on 01865 425425

A cyclist has been killed in a collision with a coach in Abingdon this morning.

The crash happened at 8.26am at the junction of Marcham Road and Colwell Drive, outside Abingdon police station. Colwell Drive is closed both ways between that junction and Blacklands Way.

Police spokesman Claire Gourlay said: "We can confirm that the cyclist has died following the crash but we do not have any more details at this time.

"The accident happened outside the police station in Colwell Drive and the road has been closed at that point.

"Traffic in the area is being delayed and the accident is also causing tailbacks on the A34."

Ms Gourlay added that road closures were expected to be in place for at least the next two hours while police accident investigators examined the scene.

Sgt Pete Jell added: "I am appealing for anyone who may have seen the coach being driven, or the cyclist prior to the collision, or have any information to help with out enquiries to contact the police."

Comments (8)

12:47pm Mon 6 Oct 08

markholland8 says...

Hi, First of all condolences to the parents. I cycle everyday to work and boys cycle to School every day and this has put the fear of god into my and my wife. It is about time the town council woke up and invested cycle friendly routes. This is a catastrophe and really saddens me. Please act now and make our roads safer for our school kids. The fist thing we should do is make helmets compulsory in schools.
Hi, First of all condolences to the parents. I cycle everyday to work and boys cycle to School every day and this has put the fear of god into my and my wife. It is about time the town council woke up and invested cycle friendly routes. This is a catastrophe and really saddens me. Please act now and make our roads safer for our school kids. The fist thing we should do is make helmets compulsory in schools. markholland8

2:15pm Mon 6 Oct 08

Steve Michael says...

While my condolences go out to the family of the victim, I must take issue with the above comment. I am a coach driver and drive in Abingdon, Didcot, Wallingford, Oxford and Wantage. Abingdon has some of the BEST Bike Path set ups around Colwell Drive, Copenhagen Drive, Dunmore Road and Audlet Drive. The biggest problem is that SO MANY cyclist refuse to use them, thus creating danger for themselves and other vehicles. I have had cyclists try to overtake my coach on the outside, see traffic coming then come up the inside and act in dangerous and despicable ways. When I've tooted my horn to point out the danger they create, I have been spat at, threatened and had my coach punched. All of the safety provisions in the world do no good if this type of attitude is displayed. Hopefully a lesson will be learned to use the paths the council and our tax money has paid for.
While my condolences go out to the family of the victim, I must take issue with the above comment. I am a coach driver and drive in Abingdon, Didcot, Wallingford, Oxford and Wantage. Abingdon has some of the BEST Bike Path set ups around Colwell Drive, Copenhagen Drive, Dunmore Road and Audlet Drive. The biggest problem is that SO MANY cyclist refuse to use them, thus creating danger for themselves and other vehicles. I have had cyclists try to overtake my coach on the outside, see traffic coming then come up the inside and act in dangerous and despicable ways. When I've tooted my horn to point out the danger they create, I have been spat at, threatened and had my coach punched. All of the safety provisions in the world do no good if this type of attitude is displayed. Hopefully a lesson will be learned to use the paths the council and our tax money has paid for. Steve Michael

4:00pm Mon 6 Oct 08

SarahLloyed says...

May I say, at this most tragic of days, that the comments from the coach driver whilst understood are perhaps not the best of times to air these views. We do not know how this young girl was killed and now is not the time to be blaming cyclists for their mis-use of the cycle paths. A family has been devasted today and we can only imagine how they must be feeling. Now is not the time to be putting blame on either the driver or the poor young girl that has been killed.
May I say, at this most tragic of days, that the comments from the coach driver whilst understood are perhaps not the best of times to air these views. We do not know how this young girl was killed and now is not the time to be blaming cyclists for their mis-use of the cycle paths. A family has been devasted today and we can only imagine how they must be feeling. Now is not the time to be putting blame on either the driver or the poor young girl that has been killed. SarahLloyed

4:26pm Mon 6 Oct 08

Britwell says...

I would just like to address Steve Michael and say that the girl killed today was a friend of mine. And so I resent quite frankly typecast comments about young cyclists. Sarah was one of the most polite, sweet people I have ever met, and had an extremely sensible attitude to cycling on the roads. Now is not the time to voice an opinion like that. What happened today was clearly a tragic accident. Rest in Peace Sarah, we're all thinking of you.
I would just like to address Steve Michael and say that the girl killed today was a friend of mine. And so I resent quite frankly typecast comments about young cyclists. Sarah was one of the most polite, sweet people I have ever met, and had an extremely sensible attitude to cycling on the roads. Now is not the time to voice an opinion like that. What happened today was clearly a tragic accident. Rest in Peace Sarah, we're all thinking of you. Britwell

5:12pm Mon 6 Oct 08

markholland8 says...

I don't want to put the blame on anyone however my point is we need to make drivers more aware, before this happens again and im sure at this time of sadness some positives can come out of this and make drivers (all drivers) aware that cyclist do use the road and to use there mirrors from time to time. What has happened today has really hit home and i didn't even know Sarah but i have 2 children that cycle to school every day and something needs to be done now.
I don't want to put the blame on anyone however my point is we need to make drivers more aware, before this happens again and im sure at this time of sadness some positives can come out of this and make drivers (all drivers) aware that cyclist do use the road and to use there mirrors from time to time. What has happened today has really hit home and i didn't even know Sarah but i have 2 children that cycle to school every day and something needs to be done now. markholland8

6:33pm Mon 6 Oct 08

Yellowted says...

She was my daughters friend, my heart goes out to her family at this most dreadful time x. Yes there are cycle paths around that area but belive she may have been crossing to get to it? And yes I feel desparately sorry for the coach driver too and the passengers. It's a dangerous corner with no crossing, only an island in the middle. Only now unfortunately this will probably be changed. There are very few cycle routes in Abingdon, I cycle every day and find these routes run out when needed most, though why are cycle lanes next to the main traffic with lorries and busses whizzing past you? I'm sorry but my children and I cycle on the paths very carefully and are always respectful to pedestrians, because I'm sick of having near misses. It's the only safest way. Paths should be wider with pedestrian and cyclist lanes and roads narrower.
She was my daughters friend, my heart goes out to her family at this most dreadful time x. Yes there are cycle paths around that area but belive she may have been crossing to get to it? And yes I feel desparately sorry for the coach driver too and the passengers. It's a dangerous corner with no crossing, only an island in the middle. Only now unfortunately this will probably be changed. There are very few cycle routes in Abingdon, I cycle every day and find these routes run out when needed most, though why are cycle lanes next to the main traffic with lorries and busses whizzing past you? I'm sorry but my children and I cycle on the paths very carefully and are always respectful to pedestrians, because I'm sick of having near misses. It's the only safest way. Paths should be wider with pedestrian and cyclist lanes and roads narrower. Yellowted

10:49pm Mon 6 Oct 08

Steve Michael says...

In no way shape or form do I mean any disrespect to the girl, her family or her friends. These issues are brought up at other times to no avail. Now IS the time to bring these issues up because people are focused on the problem. The whole point is to prevent this from happening again. It's not a question of apportioning blame, but solving a problem that has in this case become reality, but only by luck doesn't happen more often. It's every road user's responsibility to be safe, and unfortunately, more often than not, cyclists, both push bike and motorcycle use their greater manoeuvrability in ways that create dangerous situations. This problem must be addressed for everyone's sake so that there isn't a next time.
In no way shape or form do I mean any disrespect to the girl, her family or her friends. These issues are brought up at other times to no avail. Now IS the time to bring these issues up because people are focused on the problem. The whole point is to prevent this from happening again. It's not a question of apportioning blame, but solving a problem that has in this case become reality, but only by luck doesn't happen more often. It's every road user's responsibility to be safe, and unfortunately, more often than not, cyclists, both push bike and motorcycle use their greater manoeuvrability in ways that create dangerous situations. This problem must be addressed for everyone's sake so that there isn't a next time. Steve Michael

4:33pm Tue 7 Oct 08

CMac says...

My sympathy to Sarah's family and friends for their tragic loss. What a waste of a promising young life. So sorry.
My sympathy to Sarah's family and friends for their tragic loss. What a waste of a promising young life. So sorry. CMac
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