2012-03-23 - Rider Down/Fatality, Deptford Church Street (London)

Deptford Church St is at this time closed in both directions. I was trying to reach the High St from my place, and found almost every direction taped off. There were police vehicles and police everywhere. A couple of kids told me that there had been a multi-car pile-up, but when I went the long way round to where the biggest knot of po-po where standing around, I saw a seriously mangled bike lying mid-lane on the southbound side, alongside a lot of debris.

Looked like a hybrid, but it was too wrecked to be sure. Keeping in mind that when cars spin off the (almost straight) road and demolish our wall the cops have the road clear again within 20 mins, this looks bad.

I fear for the state of an unknown rider.

Shit. I went past this and asked the police but they wouldn't tell me anything. Fingers crossed.

I really hope this isn't as bad as it sounds. This is on my commute and I had to head through Greenwich to get around earlier. Fingers crossed too.

Oh shit. I live on Deptford High Street and came across the scene earlier. As OP states, the police were not willing to divulge any info. Local opinions varied between "mangled motorbike", "cyclist knocked off" and one group of lads even thought there had been a gunfight in Wavelengths!

The air ambulance was on the scene pretty quickly and left about 20 mins later.

My thoughts are with anybody/everybody affected by what sounds like a really nasty accident.

Just to comment further on the OP...if you look at the street furniture on that carriageway it is chilling to see how may cars lose control and pile into the walls, the raillings and the roundabout. Clearly not a comment on this incident but an indication that this road can be pretty sketchy :(

I rode past there and wondered what happened because I saw an abandoned bus and loads of police and ambulance with signs saying collision. I hope the rider and everyone involved is well.

There have been a few tweets this morning that a child was killed in a hit and run in this incident yesterday. I'd advise caution at this point because this also happened almost exactly a year ago and I have a feeling that people are tweeting the old news articles without checking the dates. The time of the accident that people are tweeting is about 5 hrs out too. Lets hope there hasn't been a tragic repeat though!

I live on the estate next to where the accident happened. The bouquets and messages of condolence have gone up on the railings on the central reservation by the pedestrian crossing. The lad, known as TJ (about 17 years old), was knocked off his bike by a hit-and-run driver in a stolen car, given resuscitation at the scene but died around midnight.

There's complete press silence - well, apart from the traffic delay websites - on this one and I had to see the bouquets before I believed the accounts I'd heard locally. 5 pm on a Friday afternoon is clearly a very bad time for getting any interest from the press.

RIP TJ

Thanks for letting us know. I feel sick to the stomach. That is just awful.

Did they get the driver in the end do you know?

RIP TJ.

My condolences to Tj's friends and family.

This is so saddening. A tragic waste of a young life. My thoughts are with TJ's family and friends.

RIP, too young.

Rip.

RIP TJ. I really hope they catch the hit-and-run driver, not that that's going to bring much consolation to his nearest and dearest. :(

I did wonder why there was a police helicopter around for so long after the accident...clearly they were looking for him/her.

So sorry to hear this. RIP.

awful news. RIP TJ, and condolences to everyone that knew him.
This has to stop.

thoughts with TJs family.
So wrong
Rest in Peace

I was in the area yesterday and noticed there was a lot of heavy traffic around. I had no idea this was the reason why. Terrible news, RIP TJ

Just popped by to look at the flowers. There are currently about 30 of his mates keeping a vigil at the accident site. I recognise half of them as neighbours and faces you grow accustomed too.

So so sad. Lots of anger that there is nothing in the news even though the driver is still at large.

It's a small gesture but I cable tied my old lfgss cap to the raillings. His mates were really genuinely pleased to know that we know what happened.

TJ's 18th birthday was next week. He was a keen cyclist. RIP.

^You Sir, are a diamond.

I found out last night it was TJ that was involved in the crash. My heart sank hard. I went to the same school as him in the same year and same english and ICT class. He was a brother to me. I saw him only a few days before this accident it still hasnt hit me yet that's he's gone. It's way too sudden. I went to where it happened and couldn't believe the damage that was done. I laid my flowers there today and saw all my other school friends we stood where the car had hit the steel railings reminiscing about the times TJ made an impact on us. He was deputy head boy and Prom King. Absolute swell guy. Never caused trouble and minded his own business. He never ever deserved this to happen to him. R.I.P TJ.

RIP to you, fellow rider. So awful too that it should happen to such a nice person, by all accounts, and at such a young age too. Hope they catch the vile cretin who did it.

really sad news.

thoughts and prayers for TJ, his family and friends.

So sad. What a waste. RIP young man.

Stonehedge, I applaud you.