Fatal Tring Road crash involving cyclist was ‘accident waiting to happen’, coroner hears

A coroner has said Hertfordshire County Council must act after the death of a cyclist in Cow Roast. Jacques Howell, the county's assistant coroner, has said road users could be at risk because heavy goods vehicles are allowed to stop and unload on the A4251 Tring Road. Berkhamsted cyclist David Andrews, aged 63, died at St George's Hospital in London[1] on July 12, 2022 after a crash on the route the day before. Hertfordshire County Council[2] has confirmed it is looking into a ban on lorries loading and unloading near where the incident took place.

After an inquest which took place earlier this year, the assistant coroner issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report. "The inquest received evidence that ... heavy goods vehicles frequently park on the southbound carriageway in order to unload, and witnesses have described this as 'an accident waiting to happen'," Mr Howell wrote.

"Evidence was also received from the forensic collision investigator, who gave evidence that in his view the current ability for heavy goods vehicles to lawfully stop outside the commercial premises to unload represents an ongoing risk." He added: "Mr Andrews was a keen cyclist and had been interested in cycling for about 10 years. "On July 11, 2022, he was cycling south along the A4251, Tring Road, where he collided with a stationary heavy goods vehicle which had stopped outside commercial premises waiting to unload.

Sadly, he suffered significant traumatic injuries from which he did not recover, and he died on July 12, 2022 at St George's Hospital." According to the report, the stationary HGV involved was stopped "as far to the left as possible", but it still took up "nearly all of the southbound carriageway, which bends to the right at this point". The assistant coroner said: "In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation have the power to take such action."

A Hertfordshire County Council spokesperson confirmed the authority has responded to Mr Howell, which it had a duty to do.

The spokesperson said: "In light of the issues highlighted by the coroner's report, we are looking to introduce a ban on lorries loading and unloading on this stretch of the A4251.

We hope to begin the statutory and consultation processes needed to introduce these restrictions in the near future."

References

1. ^ London (www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk)
2. ^ Hertfordshire County Council (www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk)
3. ^ Hertfordshire council slashes new homes target for Chiltern towns but plans 11,742 homes in Hemel Hempstead (www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk)
4. ^ Mark Foster says cash for Herts leisure centres a 'step in the right direction' (www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk)