2023-09-21, Rider down (fatality), Whiston Road, Hackney

A 36 year old woman cyclist was hit and killed by a driver yesterday evening. The police are seeking two men who fled on foot from the overturned car involved. Whiston Road is constantly used as a rat run by speeding drivers. When will something be done about it? RIP.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/woman-cyclist-dies-hospital-car-crash-hackney-hit-and-run-b1108759.html

Tragic. Just awful. RIP rider.

@Velocio back to black

Jesus how do people stoop so low !

A terrible tragedy. There has long been a strong desire by residents and campaigners for Whiston Road to be modally filtered, but it hasn't been done.

RIP unknown victim.

They'll get hit with the full force of the law for this. 6 month driving ban and £500 victim surcharge. Life is cheap.

RIP Rider

How awful. I used to live very near there and cycled that road a lot. Heartbreaking that the rampant speeding has cost someone’s life.

RIP Rider.

This is an apalling tragedy for the victim, her friends and family.
Local witnesses said the driver lost control at speed on wet roads after overtaking a queue of stationary traffic.

It is understood that Whiston Road is an old “quietway” – residential
roads that were recommended for cycling – but no longer forms part of
TfL’s new Cycleway network as it fails to meet TfL’s safety standards.

https://translogistics.net/2023/09/woman-cyclist-dies-following-hit-and-run-crash-in-hackney/
It still appears on LB Hackney and TfL cycle maps. I find it the worst section of my regular routes in Hackney.

My thoughts and prayers with this lady’s family, friends and co-workers. Another tragic story from our streets. RIP rider.

So so sad. RIP rider and love to all the family and friends.

A man has been charged: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/hackney-cyclist-death-whiston-road-charge-dangerous-driving-met-police-b1109482.html

An update on court proceedings against the driver:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/driver-guilty-death-dangerous-driving-female-cyclist-gao-gao-whiston-road-hackney-london-b1115415.html

Court proceedings are continuing. More details, including an account of the crash and evidence from CCTV of what happened beforehand and afterwards:

CCTV played in court showed how the driver, Martin Reilly, 29, lost control of his uninsured Nissan Note car in wet conditions, causing it to overturn and sending it barrelling head-on into Gao Gao in Whiston Road around 6.40pm on September 21 last year.

Prior to the collision, he had driven the wrong way up a one-way street, driven through a red light and had crossed to the wrong side of the road to overtake two cars immediately before crashing into Gao Gao, who was wearing bright clothing and had a flashing light on the front of her bike.

Reilly, who had 20 previous convictions and was on police bail at the time, fled the overturned vehicle with his father, James Reilly, who was a passenger in the car.

Gao Gao, a Chinese British national, was lying fatally wounded less than 20ft from the overturned car but Reilly insisted he did not see her. Whiston Road, near Haggerston park, is notorious for speeding.

The entire incident – including Reilly and his father fleeing the scene through housing estates - was caught on Hackney council CCTV. Reilly handed himself in to police two days later.

Also very sad details of how this has affected her children.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/gao-gao-cyclist-hit-and-run-hackney-london-trial-sentencing-b1133890.html

Horrific.. the driver behaviour is despicable, even before the accident.
RIP