2010-05-22 - Rider Down/Fatality, Vauxhall Bridge Rd

R.I.P. Everton Smith.

I commute that way, taking the left turn off VBR though that tight turn was beginning to really worry me. Quite often the traffic turning into Drummond Gate takes a tight turn and encroaches into the bike path.

During the school year cyclists usually have to swing out right into the middle of the road soon after going around the bend left as there are one or two cars parked (dropping off kids to the nearby school). A couple of times I've had close calls with traffic excelerating fast behind me as I move right to go around the parked vehicles.

Condolences to the family & friends of Mr Smith.

This in the Evening Standard today:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23845491-father-killed-on-road-where-bike-lane-is-too-tight.do

Some comments by police on the insufficient width of the bike lane at the collision point... but not really anything about regarding the how well/poorly the lorry was being driven.

I thought the comments from the Police on that article were quite encouraging in the sense that it seemed like they were firing a warning shot across the Council's bows (ie get your cycle lanes in order) The cycle lanes on Vauxhall Bridge and neighbouring Lambeth Bridge are truly shocking (see my thoughts on Lambeth Bridge here)

Maybe this tragic death will act as a catalyst to ensure that either: A.) the narrow lanes are replaced with standard wide lanes, or B.) if there is no room they are ripped out and traffic calming / speed restrictions put in place instead.

We shall see. Reading the article it seems Mr Smith was an experienced rider, he leaves behind his widow and three children. Too too sad.

From his widow, Pamela:
“This morning my eight-year-old son said to me they have to do something to stop this happening. If they are encouraging people to cycle and nothing is done, then more people are going to die.”

It is very sad indeed. The traffic goes far too fast around that area. I know it quite well as a pedestrian and have observed the traffic a lot (I don't cycle that way). The cycling facilities are shocking and the video shown on the LCC website (see page 1 of this thread) shows how terrifying that bridge can be for cyclists.

My thoughts to Mr Smith's family.

RIP Everton Smith.
Such a tragedy.
I hate that stretch, I cross it on the way to Herne Hill.

RIP Everton Smith. Another terrible and needless death on our roads.

Does anyone have any more information on the cement mixer? Specifically, which company/fleet operator was it?

This was in today's (8/11/11) Evening Standard on the hearing for Mr Smith:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24007407-no-justice-as-driver-who-killed-cyclist-walks-free.do

I want to say I feel angry about this, but all I really feel is a numb sense of sadness for Mr Smith's family and incredulity at the law. Again.

The widow of a civil servant run over and killed by a cement mixer as he was cycling home said today she had been cheated of justice after the driver walked free from court.
Father-of-three Everton Smith, 48, was cycling home to Fulham when he was hit by Paul Joseph's truck near Vauxhall Bridge when the driver switched lanes in May last year.
Joseph, 45, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. At Southward crown court he was sentenced to 16 weeks' jail, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service.
Today Mr Smith's widow Pamela cried as she said: "There is no justice at all. Why can you kill someone and then just walk free? We are left without him and he can go on with his life. It is so unfair." Police found that Mr Smith would "not always have been visible" to Joseph.
The Standard's Safer Cycling campaign has called for the introduction of extra safety mirrors for trucks.

It sounds like another travesty. I wonder if it was even established what happened. Perhaps there'll be a more informative article later.

why are the courts / the establishment / the media relying on what the police say on matters regarding the interaction between cyclists and other road users ?

surely they should be asking an expert witness with a high level of cycling experience in london.

really sad news.

thoughts and prayers for the family and friends at this difficult time.

There's a bit more detail here:

JOSEPH:CEMENT MIXER DRIVER WHO KILLED CYCLIST SPARED JAIL

WESTMINSTER, FULHAM, CLAPHAM. A cement mixer driver who killed a cyclist while carrying an excessive load and an unrestrained dog in his cab has been spared jail. Civil servant Everton Smith, 48, died after he collided with Paul Joseph's truck in Bessborough Gardens by Vauxhall Bridge, central London. The father of three had been cycling home from a game of squash on May 22 last year when Joseph, 45, struck him as he moved from one lane to another. Medics from a passing ambulance and an air ambulance fought to save the cyclist's life but he was later pronounced dead at the scene. A police investigation found that the cement mixer was almost 2,000kg overweight and that there was a dog in the cab, but said neither factor was responsible for the collision.

http://www.courtnewsuk.co.uk/newsgallery/?page=2

Another sad unbelievable story. Surely it's our human right to be treated like any other road user. Same old story - We don't matter.

There's a bit more detail here:

JOSEPH:CEMENT MIXER DRIVER WHO KILLED CYCLIST SPARED JAIL

WESTMINSTER, FULHAM, CLAPHAM. A cement mixer driver who killed a cyclist while carrying an excessive load and an unrestrained dog in his cab has been spared jail. Civil servant Everton Smith, 48, died after he collided with Paul Joseph's truck in Bessborough Gardens by Vauxhall Bridge, central London. The father of three had been cycling home from a game of squash on May 22 last year when Joseph, 45, struck him as he moved from one lane to another. Medics from a passing ambulance and an air ambulance fought to save the cyclist's life but he was later pronounced dead at the scene. A police investigation found that the cement mixer was almost 2,000kg overweight and that there was a dog in the cab, but said neither factor was responsible for the collision.

http://www.courtnewsuk.co.uk/newsgallery/?page=2

so that begs the question what were the factors that were responsible for the collision ?