2012-10-26 - Rider Down/Fatality, Sunderland

http://www.sun-fm.com/news/local/801267/cyclist-dies-in-sunderland-accident/
A cyclist has been killed as he swapped details with a driver following an accident in Sunderland.

Stan Coates from West Herrington was involved in a minor collision in Burdon Lane in the Ryhope area on Friday.

As the 55 year old recovered from that, he was hit by another car.

Police want to trace two men in a gray transit van who offered to take the bike home just before the second crash - the cycle hasn't been returned.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-20114930

Northumbria Police said two men in a Transit van claiming to know and live near Mr Coates had pulled up and taken the bicycle after the first collision.

But the bike is now missing and police are appealing for witnesses.

The police force said the men, in a grey van, "looked as if they had just finished work".

Mr Coates was flown in nine minutes to James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough, by the Great North Air Ambulance.

The service said it had been unable to land at a hospital in Newcastle because of snow.

Officers questioned the driver of the car which struck Mr Coates, of West Herrington, but no arrests were made.

RIP Stan Coates
what an awful story, hard to know what to say.
if his bike has been stolen by people offering to help, that is some seriously bad karma for those involved.
condolences to those who knew and miss him.

RIP fellow rider

http://www.northumbria.police.uk/news_and_events/media_centre/news_releases/details.asp?id=66663

Condolences to Stan's family and friends.

this is horrible. I'm at a loss for words.
Condolences

Bike has been returned. Apparently the van driver took the deceased's phone number for him to call and return the bike, but obviously he never got that call.

So no wrongdoing there.

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/latest-news-killed-cyclist-s-bike-returned-1-5076727

good to hear the bike was taken and returned with good intentions, at least.