Person down Oval 29/06/09

My partner was the driver of the Lorry which was in the accident on Monday where sadly a woman cyclist died. I have read all the posts about this and some have been quite upsetting as a lot of comments have been way off the mark. My partner had not been drinking all night, he was safely tucked up in bed at 9pm watching TV with a cup of tea. He is an experienced HGV driver of 20yrs and has never had an accident. The cyclist came up on his left side and has sais he simply did not see her,he did check his mirror but she was in his blind spot. I have researched this and a lot of accidents have happened this way. He was arrested, this would be normal practise after an accident of this nature, the police are now conducting an investigation. He is traumatised and our lives will never be the same again. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this terrible time.

Julie, I hope you and your husband are ok. As a cyclist who was lucky to survive a similar accident last year, I feel very strongly about these accidents. I know that your husband, like the driver involved in my accident, did not go out intending to hit a cyclist, it was a tragic accident. All those involved have to live with it for the rest of their lives.

We need to stop placing blame, (and yes I know that some drivers should not be driving cars or HGVs, but that is not going to change) and find a solution. And it should start with educating ALL road users.