2011-10-03 - Rider Down/Fatality, Kings Cross

There but for the Grace of God go many of us. I add my sympathy and condolence to her parents, family and friends. And also spare a thought for the lorry driver whose life has irrevocably changed.
To be involved in the death of another is not a good thought to live with; if only drivers would consider the impact on all concerned when they try to save those few extra seconds off the journey time. Or indeed, we cyclists when we just try for that slot or to make those lights which have just changed. As they say, "slow is smooth; smooth is fast".

RIP

http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com/2011/10/kings-cross-cyclist-deaths-and-injuries-tfl-corporate-manslaughter.html

http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com/2011/10/kings-cross-cyclist-deaths-and-injuries-tfl-corporate-manslaughter.html

Fascinating stuff. TFL know the junction is dangerous, they've been warned, explicitly. They should be accountable for the horrific deaths their stupidity contributes to.

^ yes very interesting. i hope he / she is successful.

More news:

*Over the weekend I have begin piecing together how the systems work. The death should be investigated by the Met's Road Death Investigation Unit. Their report will go to the St Pancras Coroner Andrew Scott Ried in a hearing likely to be in May 2012. *
*I spoke with the Coroners Officer who is the case officer. And have written to the Coroner enclosing a copy of the TfL-commissioned report, making the basic case. I asked him to consider raising the issue of corporate manslaugher with the CPS by making a statment or writing following his inquest. *
I have left a voicemail with the police on the number they advertised asking for witnesses to say that i have new information. I shall find the correct officer on Monday and write to the senior officer there enclosing a copy of the TfL-commissioned report.
Corporate Manslaughter is prosecuted by the CPS, with the head of the CPS making the decision. There is avery good guide to prosecuting corporate manslaughter online When i have spoken to the police I shall also write to the Director of Public Prosecutions. There's also a handy HSE guide.
TfL is a politically controlled body with the Mayor in ultimate charge. The Mayor's Transport Commissioner is before the GLA for his regular question time in early November. I need to find a GLA member to raise the issue with him. By complete coincidence last week Jenny Jones AM challenged the Mayor to ride Kings Cross with her. So i shall see if she will raise the wider issue in former questions (I have to say that riding around Kings Cross on an inspection tour is frankly lethal without a police escort).

http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com/2011/10/kings-cross-dangerous-roads-update.html

^ someone's doing their homework. Great work!

^^ +1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15355659

So sad. My heart goes out to the family and friends of this poor cyclist.

Every time a rider down thread pops up my stomach churns and I fear it'll be someone I know.

^^

yes i saw this on this bbc london news at 1830 tonight.

i thought it was good piece. it referred to the danger and possibility of tfl being held repsonsible etc. and i thought it was sympathetic to our cause.

it interviewed a rider called sophie talbot.

well done sophie. you came across very well.

maybe our cause is going up the news / public agenda.

Yes. BBC's was a remarkably level headed report. I hope this stays in the news.

And, of course, deepest condolences to the family of Min Joo Lee. So terrible. And so avoidable. Shameful that it has taken a death for this to be brought into public view.

Also: Since the Guardian's offices are on York Way and many of their staff cycle to work, I reckon this might become a campaign they get really involved in.

There's another female cyclist down in King's Cross this morning. Hit by a bus apparently. Anyone able to confirm?

http://cyclelondoncity.blogspot.com/2011/10/lord-mayor-of-london-cycling-is-way-to.html

Yes at the junction by Big Chill. Bus stopped just past the scene going towards Thameslink, person in road behind it - couldn't make out a bike. Paramedics at the scene at when i passed aty 9am, not sure what time it happened but i could make out some activity on the floor behind an ambulance.

For confirming. Fingers crossed for the cyclist

Very quick to reopen the roads so suggests a non-fatality.. thank goodness

went through there earlier this morning on way to work - saw a girl on a stretcher right next to a bus outside big chill but couldn't see a bike anywhere. they weren't rushing her in to the ambulance so can only hope non-fatality. closed off entire street from just after kings cross station. hope she's ok

Would explain the traffic this morning.
Hope she's OK.

I'm happy to say that the program for getting cycle training available and advertised to students at Central St Martins is going well. An exchange of places event where cyclists are invited into the cab of a lorry is planned, along with talks from David (SkyDancer) from CTUK and Camden Council providing a student-specific training program.

Thanks to everyone on the forum who's helping out.

just been asked to pass this on:

On 26 October at 6.30pm (today) there will be a ghost bike installed for Min Joo Lee.
every fellow cyclist is welcome

I'm going to this, and bringing some flowers.

The installation of the ghost bike tonight was very pignant. There were lots of people there, and her friends were obviously pretty upset. I had a mixture of feelings; terrible sadness, and anger too at the tragedy of it all. The longer I stood on that junction the more angry I got - it's one of those places where you only ever pass through and if you actually stop to stay a while you really see what a messed up corner of the city it is. All so avoidable.
The bike was actually really beautiful, and there were so many flowers. Some pics here:
http://ibikelondon.blogspot.com/2011/10/ghost-bike-for-deep-lee-min-joo-lee-at.html

Rest in peace Deep Lee.

Lovely blogpost, Mark.

Oh, that's heartbreaking.

That reduced me to tears. That cement mixer driver should be hauled out of his cab and made to read that.