When a person driving a vehicle hits a cyclist or a pedestrian, the common newswriting construct is to craft the sentence in the passive voice, so that the victim of the crash is the subject of the sentence. Journalists will write, "A cyclist was hit..."
or a "A pedestrian was injured..." This grammatical choice puts the reader's attention on the person who was hurt or killed. Journalists often finish the sentence by writing that the person was "hit by a car" or, less frequently, "hit by a driver."

Today we address a letter from a reader who viewed the use of the phrase "hit by a car" in an NPR headline as a failure to acknowledge the driver of the vehicle and their role in the crash. The story was about a car-bike collision that killed a teenage
star in the world of competitive cycling.

Turns out the writer and the editor behind the story had their own discussion about the language. Read on to find out why they chose to use that phrase in the headline, as well as our analysis of their decision.

We also highlight a story from a mountain in Pakistan where an NPR correspondent traveled to watch locals revive an ancient tradition and try to make a new glacier.
FROM THE INBOX

Here are a few quotes from the Public Editor's inbox that resonated with us. Letters are edited for length and clarity. You can share your questions and concerns with us through the NPR Contact page.

Hit by a car — or a driver?

Neil Stein wrote on Aug. 2: This article has the headline "Top American cyclist Magnus White, 17, dies after being hit by a car." By a car. Did the car's brakes fail and roll into him? No, he was hit by a driver of a car. The first sentence of the
article says as much. So why does the headline erase the human element? This ... language minimizes the reality of the rising fatality rates in the U.S. for people who bike and simply walk. Any reckoning with this sad state of affairs has to confront the
reality that we are killing each other with our vehicles in entirely preventable circumstances, not that the vehicles are mindlessly causing unavoidable mishaps.

NPR's digital story about Magnus White's death starts off with this sentence: "A rising star in American cycling, 17-year-old Magnus White, has died after a driver hit him while he was cycling on the shoulder of a highway in his hometown of Boulder, Colo.
"

But the headline, as the letter writer noted, says White died "after being hit by a car."

Other outlets, such as The New York Times, ran the news about White under a headline that specified a driver hit him: "Teen Competitive Cyclist Dies After Being Hit by Driver." Some headlines about White's death didn't use the terms "hit by a car" or "
hit by a driver" at all, like this one from The Guardian : "Rising US cycling star Magnus White killed during training ride at 17." The details about how White was killed were provided within the story.

We talked with News Desk correspondent Laurel Wamsley, who reported the NPR piece.

She said she understands the criticism of using "hit by a car" in the headline. As an avid cyclist, she closely follows news about people being killed or injured by drivers while biking, as well as the conversations about how the news media reports on
these issues.

The original headline Wamsley submitted to her editors for this story was "Top American cyclist Magnus White, 17, dies after being hit by a driver." But that initial headline was changed in the editing process. She and her editor discussed that "hit by a
driver" might imply the driver got out of the car to assault the victim. In their conversation, Wamsley made her editor aware of ongoing language debates and sent a 2019 Bloomberg story about research showing that "news stories overwhelmingly (but often
subtly) shift blame onto pedestrians and cyclists" when they are hit or killed in a car crash, rather than the driver.

Wamsley and her editor ultimately decided "hit by a car" was most appropriate for the headline because they thought "hit by a driver" wasn't clear enough. They chose instead to be more specific in the teaser text, a summary that appears under a headline
on NPR's website before readers click the link to read it, but the text doesn't appear on social media or search engines.

The teaser reads: "White was preparing to compete in next week's Cyclocross World Championships in Scotland when a driver struck him while he was cycling on the shoulder of a highway in Boulder, Colo."

"We had a fair amount of work to do in this headline because we were trying to convey some of the details of the incident and also convey ... who was killed," Wamsley said. "It was a young American cyclist on the national team, but also one that most
Americans probably have not heard of previously. So we need to convey a lot of information, including some circumstances of the incident, and we relied on the teaser to unpack more of those details."

Advocates for cycling and safer streets argue that journalists should use the word "driver" to describe the person who collides with a cyclist, rather than "car" or "vehicle," Wamsley said. The Associated Press does not have formal guidelines about the
phrases "hit by a car" or "hit by a driver." We asked AP Stylebook editor Paula Froke her thoughts on the language.

Froke said in an email that she appreciated the audience member's perspective as a "cyclist who has been hit by a car (which was driven by a person) and who has many friends and acquaintances who also have been hit while riding their bikes."

"But as an editor, I believe the phrasing 'hit by a car' does convey the meaning, especially in the limited space possible in a headline," she said. "Readers know that most cars are driven by people. That's implicit. (If a driverless car were involved,
we would specify that.) And in fact, he was hit by the motor vehicle itself. Not by a person. A rewording to say the cyclist was hit by a driver would actually be more muddied, I think."

Wamsley concurred: "I do think that colloquially people talk about cars hitting something rather than the driver hitting something [because] a driver can be inside or outside of a car. It certainly is accurate to say that the cyclist was 'struck by a car'
— it's not inaccurate. But it doesn't tell the whole story. It's always hard to tell the whole story in a headline."

After the headline, the story should report any available details about the nature of the crash, Froke said. "Did authorities say the driver lost control? Or veered into the bike lane? Or any other description of the circumstances? That's not always
possible in the early goings. But certainly, any details about the actions of the driver are essential when they are known," she wrote.

The NPR story provides such details, including that "the driver crossed from the right-hand lane onto the shoulder, striking White from behind before she crashed into a fence, according to an incident report from the Colorado State Patrol." Wamsley also
inserted a link to a 2022 All Things Considered story titled "More cyclists are being killed by cars. Advocates say U.S. streets are the problem," which appears alongside the text of the story as related content that readers can click.

Packing all the information of a complex story into the small number of characters available in a headline presents challenges, as Wamsley and Froke pointed out. We agree that "hit by a car" is understandable in a headline and is acceptable as long as
the story provides as many details as possible about the nature of the crash so as not to assign undue blame to victims. Wamsley's story accomplished this. — Emily Barske Wood

https://www.npr.org/sections/publiceditor/2023/09/07/1198102573/when-covering-car-cyclist-collisions

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

When a person driving a vehicle hits a cyclist or a pedestrian, the
common newswriting construct is to craft the sentence in the passive
voice, so that the victim of the crash is the subject of the sentence. Journalists will write, "A cyclist was hit..." or a "A pedestrian was injured..." This grammatical choice puts the reader's attention on the
person who was hurt or killed. Journalists often finish the sentence by writing that the person was "hit by a car" or, less frequently, "hit by a driver."

Today we address a letter from a reader who viewed the use of the phrase
"hit by a car" in an NPR headline as a failure to acknowledge the driver
of the vehicle and their role in the crash. The story was about a
car-bike collision that killed a teenage star in the world of competitive cycling.

Turns out the writer and the editor behind the story had their own
discussion about the language. Read on to find out why they chose to use
that phrase in the headline, as well as our analysis of their decision.

We also highlight a story from a mountain in Pakistan where an NPR correspondent traveled to watch locals revive an ancient tradition and
try to make a new glacier.
FROM THE INBOX

Here are a few quotes from the Public Editor's inbox that resonated with
us. Letters are edited for length and clarity. You can share your
questions and concerns with us through the NPR Contact page.

Hit by a car — or a driver?

Neil Stein wrote on Aug. 2: This article has the headline "Top American cyclist Magnus White, 17, dies after being hit by a car." By a car. Did
the car's brakes fail and roll into him? No, he was hit by a driver of a
car. The first sentence of the article says as much. So why does the
headline erase the human element? This ... language minimizes the reality
of the rising fatality rates in the U.S. for people who bike and simply
walk. Any reckoning with this sad state of affairs has to confront the reality that we are killing each other with our vehicles in entirely preventable circumstances, not that the vehicles are mindlessly causing unavoidable mishaps.

NPR's digital story about Magnus White's death starts off with this
sentence: "A rising star in American cycling, 17-year-old Magnus White,
has died after a driver hit him while he was cycling on the shoulder of a highway in his hometown of Boulder, Colo."

But the headline, as the letter writer noted, says White died "after being hit by a car."

Other outlets, such as The New York Times, ran the news about White under
a headline that specified a driver hit him: "Teen Competitive Cyclist
Dies After Being Hit by Driver." Some headlines about White's death
didn't use the terms "hit by a car" or "hit by a driver" at all, like
this one from The Guardian : "Rising US cycling star Magnus White killed during training ride at 17." The details about how White was killed were provided within the story.

We talked with News Desk correspondent Laurel Wamsley, who reported the NPR piece.

She said she understands the criticism of using "hit by a car" in the headline. As an avid cyclist, she closely follows news about people being killed or injured by drivers while biking, as well as the conversations
about how the news media reports on these issues.

The original headline Wamsley submitted to her editors for this story was "Top American cyclist Magnus White, 17, dies after being hit by a
driver." But that initial headline was changed in the editing process.
She and her editor discussed that "hit by a driver" might imply the
driver got out of the car to assault the victim. In their conversation, Wamsley made her editor aware of ongoing language debates and sent a 2019 Bloomberg story about research showing that "news stories overwhelmingly
(but often subtly) shift blame onto pedestrians and cyclists" when they
are hit or killed in a car crash, rather than the driver.

Wamsley and her editor ultimately decided "hit by a car" was most
appropriate for the headline because they thought "hit by a driver"
wasn't clear enough. They chose instead to be more specific in the teaser text, a summary that appears under a headline on NPR's website before
readers click the link to read it, but the text doesn't appear on social media or search engines.

The teaser reads: "White was preparing to compete in next week's
Cyclocross World Championships in Scotland when a driver struck him while
he was cycling on the shoulder of a highway in Boulder, Colo."

"We had a fair amount of work to do in this headline because we were
trying to convey some of the details of the incident and also convey ...
who was killed," Wamsley said. "It was a young American cyclist on the national team, but also one that most Americans probably have not heard
of previously. So we need to convey a lot of information, including some circumstances of the incident, and we relied on the teaser to unpack more
of those details."

Advocates for cycling and safer streets argue that journalists should use
the word "driver" to describe the person who collides with a cyclist,
rather than "car" or "vehicle," Wamsley said. The Associated Press does
not have formal guidelines about the phrases "hit by a car" or "hit by a driver." We asked AP Stylebook editor Paula Froke her thoughts on the language.

Froke said in an email that she appreciated the audience member's
perspective as a "cyclist who has been hit by a car (which was driven by
a person) and who has many friends and acquaintances who also have been
hit while riding their bikes."

"But as an editor, I believe the phrasing 'hit by a car' does convey the meaning, especially in the limited space possible in a headline," she
said. "Readers know that most cars are driven by people. That's implicit.
(If a driverless car were involved, we would specify that.) And in fact,
he was hit by the motor vehicle itself. Not by a person. A rewording to
say the cyclist was hit by a driver would actually be more muddied, I think."

Wamsley concurred: "I do think that colloquially people talk about cars hitting something rather than the driver hitting something [because] a
driver can be inside or outside of a car. It certainly is accurate to say that the cyclist was 'struck by a car' — it's not inaccurate. But it doesn't tell the whole story. It's always hard to tell the whole story in a headline."

After the headline, the story should report any available details about
the nature of the crash, Froke said. "Did authorities say the driver lost control? Or veered into the bike lane? Or any other description of the circumstances? That's not always possible in the early goings. But
certainly, any details about the actions of the driver are essential when they are known," she wrote.

The NPR story provides such details, including that "the driver crossed
from the right-hand lane onto the shoulder, striking White from behind
before she crashed into a fence, according to an incident report from the Colorado State Patrol." Wamsley also inserted a link to a 2022 All Things Considered story titled "More cyclists are being killed by cars.
Advocates say U.S. streets are the problem," which appears alongside the
text of the story as related content that readers can click.

Packing all the information of a complex story into the small number of characters available in a headline presents challenges, as Wamsley and
Froke pointed out. We agree that "hit by a car" is understandable in a headline and is acceptable as long as the story provides as many details
as possible about the nature of the crash so as not to assign undue blame
to victims. Wamsley's story accomplished this. — Emily Barske Wood

https://www.npr.org/sections/publiceditor/2023/09/07/1198102573/when-covering-car-cyclist-collisions

--
Spike

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QUOTE: Wamsley and her editor ultimately decided "hit by a car" was most appropriate for the headline because they thought "hit by a driver" wasn't clear enough. ENDS

The driver could have exited the car and stabbed the cyclist with a knife - at a push.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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QUOTE: Advocates for cycling and safer streets argue that journalists should use the word "driver" to describe the person who collides with a cyclist, rather than "car" or "vehicle," Wamsley said. ENDS

OF COURSE - THESE KILLER DRIVERS WANT TO AIRBRUSH THEMSELVES FROM THE DEATHS THEY CAUSE.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

QUOTE: Wamsley and her editor ultimately decided "hit by a car" was most appropriate for the headline because they thought "hit by a driver"
wasn't clear enough. ENDS

The driver could have exited the car and stabbed the cyclist with a knife - at a push.

The word is ‘thrust’, not ‘push’.

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

QUOTE: Advocates for cycling and safer streets argue that journalists
should use the word "driver" to describe the person who collides with a cyclist, rather than "car" or "vehicle," Wamsley said. ENDS

OF COURSE - THESE KILLER DRIVERS WANT TO AIRBRUSH THEMSELVES FROM THE DEATHS THEY CAUSE.

It is to be suspected that very few drivers collide with cyclists, the collision in reality being between the motor vehicle and the pedal vehicle.

But, of course, any such air-brushing of the cyclist out of the picture wouldn’t suit the agenda, would it?

--
Spike

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QUOTE: Neil Stein wrote on Aug. 2: This article has the headline "Top American cyclist Magnus White, 17, dies after being hit by a car." By a car. Did the car's brakes fail and roll into him? No, he was hit by a driver of a car. The first sentence of the
article says as much. So why does the headline erase the human element? This ... language minimizes the reality of the rising fatality rates in the U.S. for people who bike and simply walk. Any reckoning with this sad state of affairs has to confront the
reality that we are killing each other with our vehicles in entirely preventable circumstances, not that the vehicles are mindlessly causing unavoidable mishaps. ENDS

If this happened with trains or planes they would get shut down until a solution was found PDQ.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

QUOTE: Wamsley made her editor aware of ongoing language debates and sent a 2019 Bloomberg story about research showing that "news stories overwhelmingly (but often subtly) shift blame onto pedestrians and cyclists" when they are hit or killed in a car
crash, rather than the driver. ENDS

Yes - blaming the innocent dead victims is a favourite trope in the UK news media as well.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 07/09/2023 08:03 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

QUOTE: Neil Stein wrote on Aug. 2: This article has the headline "Top American cyclist Magnus White, 17, dies after being hit by a car." By a car.

With what did he come into contact?

A vehicle or a human being?

If you were describing a suicide on the railway, would you say that the deceased was hit by a train, or by the train's driver?

Did the car's brakes fail and roll into him? No, he was hit by a driver of a car.

So unlikely - even in a convertible with the roof down - as to be almost
risible.

The first sentence of the article says as much. So why does the headline erase the human element?

How does it do that?

Which two objects collided?

This ... language minimizes the reality of the rising fatality rates in the U.S. for people who bike and simply walk. Any reckoning with this sad state of affairs has to confront the reality that we are killing each other with our vehicles in entirely

preventable circumstances, not that the vehicles are mindlessly causing unavoidable mishaps. ENDS

If this happened with trains or planes they would get shut down until a solution was found PDQ.

Good idea.

Ban chav-cycling until a solution to the terrible behaviour of
chav-cyclists is found.

That might well be a V E R Y L O N G time.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

QUOTE: Neil Stein wrote on Aug. 2: This article has the headline "Top American cyclist Magnus White, 17, dies after being hit by a car." By a
car. Did the car's brakes fail and roll into him? No, he was hit by a
driver of a car. The first sentence of the article says as much. So why
does the headline erase the human element? This ... language minimizes
the reality of the rising fatality rates in the U.S. for people who bike
and simply walk. Any reckoning with this sad state of affairs has to
confront the reality that we are killing each other with our vehicles in entirely preventable circumstances, not that the vehicles are mindlessly causing unavoidable mishaps. ENDS

If this happened with trains or planes they would get shut down until a solution was found PDQ.

Keep in mind the fact that 1 in 6 cyclist road deaths involve no other
vehicle.

If cyclists want absolute safety, they should start looking closer to home.

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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QUOTE: It certainly is accurate to say that the cyclist was 'struck by a car' — it's not inaccurate. But it doesn't tell the whole story. It's always hard to tell the whole story in a headline." ENDS

The thick gammons in the UK don't care about facts, only headlines about "invading" hordes of asylum seekers and Farage and his racist utterings on GBeebies. Don't confuse them with actual "facts".

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

QUOTE: It certainly is accurate to say that the cyclist was 'struck by a
car' — it's not inaccurate. But it doesn't tell the whole story. It's always hard to tell the whole story in a headline." ENDS

The thick gammons in the UK don't care about facts, only headlines about "invading" hordes of asylum seekers and Farage and his racist utterings
on GBeebies. Don't confuse them with actual "facts".

Much like not confusing cyclists with actual data, such as the cycling-mad Dutch dying from the same major illnesses at the same rate as the lardarse Brits, thus blowing the ‘cycling makes you healthier’ shibboleth out of the water.

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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QUOTE: Today we address a letter from a reader who viewed the use of the phrase "hit by a car" in an NPR headline as a failure to acknowledge the driver of the vehicle and their role in the crash. The story was about a car-bike collision that killed a
teenage star in the world of competitive cycling. ENDS

In the UK, such such stories would not allow reader comments in rags such as the Daily Mail as there would be 90% cheering on the deaths.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

QUOTE: Today we address a letter from a reader who viewed the use of the phrase "hit by a car" in an NPR headline as a failure to acknowledge the driver of the vehicle and their role in the crash. The story was about a car-bike collision that killed a teenage star in the world of competitive cycling. ENDS

In the UK, such such stories would not allow reader comments in rags such
as the Daily Mail as there would be 90% cheering on the deaths.

I’m sure you will find that your continuing series of posts mentioning dead cyclists does little to ameliorate the situation for everyone concerned.

It is said that every movement needs its martyrs, and one might suspect
that is why you post such ‘news’, sometimes several times for a particular death, to keep cyclists deaths in the public mind. Perhaps you might ask yourself if this is the best way forward to promote whatever agenda it is
that you follow.


--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On Friday, September 8, 2023 at 11:47:20 AM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

QUOTE: Today we address a letter from a reader who viewed the use of the phrase "hit by a car" in an NPR headline as a failure to acknowledge the driver of the vehicle and their role in the crash. The story was about a car-bike collision that killed a

teenage star in the world of competitive cycling. ENDS

In the UK, such such stories would not allow reader comments in rags such as the Daily Mail as there would be 90% cheering on the deaths.

Oddly, they have the polar opposite view when a driver gets killed whenever a brick is lobbed off a motorway bridge. You would never get load of cyclists saying "oh how we all laughed" in the comments section. Like everything else - it's a driver problem.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

On Friday, September 8, 2023 at 11:47:20 AM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

QUOTE: Today we address a letter from a reader who viewed the use of the
phrase "hit by a car" in an NPR headline as a failure to acknowledge the
driver of the vehicle and their role in the crash. The story was about a
car-bike collision that killed a teenage star in the world of competitive cycling. ENDS

In the UK, such such stories would not allow reader comments in rags
such as the Daily Mail as there would be 90% cheering on the deaths.

Oddly, they have the polar opposite view when a driver gets killed
whenever a brick is lobbed off a motorway bridge. You would never get
load of cyclists saying "oh how we all laughed" in the comments section.
Like everything else - it's a driver problem.

You need to concentrate on the difference between an ‘accident’ and a ‘deliberate’.


--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On Friday, September 8, 2023 at 11:47:20 AM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

QUOTE: Today we address a letter from a reader who viewed the use of the phrase "hit by a car" in an NPR headline as a failure to acknowledge the driver of the vehicle and their role in the crash. The story was about a car-bike collision that killed a

teenage star in the world of competitive cycling. ENDS

In the UK, such such stories would not allow reader comments in rags such as the Daily Mail as there would be 90% cheering on the deaths.

Even toddlers on trikes are laughed at when they get run over by lorries mounting the pavement, the sick ghouls.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 08/09/2023 04:32 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

On Friday, September 8, 2023 at 11:47:20 AM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

QUOTE: Today we address a letter from a reader who viewed the use of the phrase "hit by a car" in an NPR headline as a failure to acknowledge the driver of the vehicle and their role in the crash. The story was about a car-bike collision that killed a

teenage star in the world of competitive cycling. ENDS

In the UK, such such stories would not allow reader comments in rags such as the Daily Mail as there would be 90% cheering on the deaths.

Even toddlers on trikes are laughed at when they get run over by lorries mounting the pavement, the sick ghouls.

Rhetorical question:

Has anyone else ever advised you that you are a totally deranged idiot?

They must have.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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No mention of the tree's culpability - shocking writing! ======================================
An elderly driver aged in his 70s has been killed following a crash in Ashford on Saturday morning (September 9). Kent Police has confirmed that the incident took place on the A251 Faversham Road at around 6.30am.

The driver of a red Mazda 6 estate car is reported to have collided with a tree in the area. A large emergency service response was called to the scene, including crews from the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

A road closure remained in place throughout the morning and into the afternoon while emergency service personnel remained at the scene. A spokesperson for Kent Police said: “Officers attended the scene along with the South East Coast Ambulance Service
where the driver in his 70s was pronounced deceased.”

The road was re-opened and traffic returned to normal at around 1pm. Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are investigating and are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward.

They are also urging anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage taken in the area around the time to come forward. Witnesses should call the SCIU appeal line on 01622 798538 quoting reference RY/SS/100/23. You can also email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk and
footage can be submitted here .

https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/driver-killed-after-car-hits-8739730

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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I take it this will be a new addition your dismal collection of road
deaths?

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

No mention of the tree's culpability - shocking writing! =====================================An elderly driver aged in his 70s
has been killed following a crash in Ashford on Saturday morning
(September 9). Kent Police has confirmed that the incident took place on
the A251 Faversham Road at around 6.30am.

The driver of a red Mazda 6 estate car is reported to have collided with
a tree in the area. A large emergency service response was called to the scene, including crews from the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

A road closure remained in place throughout the morning and into the afternoon while emergency service personnel remained at the scene. A spokesperson for Kent Police said: Officers attended the scene along
with the South East Coast Ambulance Service where the driver in his 70s
was pronounced deceased.

The road was re-opened and traffic returned to normal at around 1pm.
Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are investigating and are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward.

They are also urging anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage taken in the
area around the time to come forward. Witnesses should call the SCIU
appeal line on 01622 798538 quoting reference RY/SS/100/23. You can also email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk and footage can be submitted here .

https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/driver-killed-after-car-hits-8739730

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 4:27:59 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

No mention of the tree's culpability - shocking writing! ======================================

A man has died after his car left the road and collided with a tree in Northwood.

Herts Police have appealed for information after, for reasons unknown, a blue Citroen Xsara crashed in The Woods at the junction with Sandy Lane just before 1.55pm today (July 13).

Emergency services including an air ambulance were called but the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

The driver was a man in his mid-20s from Watford, Herts Police confirmed.

Sergeant Tim Davies, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit, said: “Our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends at this very difficult time.

“Our enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances around the collision and, as part of this, we are appealing for witnesses to please get in touch.

“Did you witness the collision or see the vehicle in the area prior to it?

“I’m particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have captured dash cam footage. If you were in the area and have one fitted, please check it and contact us if you have captured something which may assist us.”

Information can be reported online or via non-emergency number 101, quoting reference ISR 416 of 13 July, 2023.

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/23654721.driver-dies-crashing-tree-woods-northwood/

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

13th July 2023

Another one for your morbid list?


swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/23654721.driver-dies-crashing-tree-woods-northwood/

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

A driver has been arrested after a crash on the M4 in Wiltshire. The driver hit a tree last night (April 12) with the car ending up on its side, report Wiltshire Police.

There was a significant police presence at the scene with roads policing officers and an armed response vehicle dealing with the incident. Despite the violent impact of the crash, the driver emerged largely unscathed.

The driver, who was not seriously injured in the accident, provided a positive breath test. In a tweet, Wiltshire Special Police Operations, said: “A near-miss for this driver on the M4. Scene attended by #RPU & #ARV.

“Miraculously the lone occupant wasn't seriously injured, thankfully they hit a tree and not another vehicle.”

https://www.wiltshirelive.co.uk/news/wiltshire-news/driver-arrested-after-car-hits-8673859

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Dated 08:58, 13 AUG 2023, some four weeks ago.

Are you looking for ‘evidence’ to support whatever agenda it is that you are trying to project?


swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

A driver has been arrested after a crash on the M4 in Wiltshire. The
driver hit a tree last night (April 12) with the car ending up on its
side, report Wiltshire Police.

There was a significant police presence at the scene with roads policing officers and an armed response vehicle dealing with the incident. Despite
the violent impact of the crash, the driver emerged largely unscathed.

The driver, who was not seriously injured in the accident, provided a positive breath test. In a tweet, Wiltshire Special Police Operations,
said: “A near-miss for this driver on the M4. Scene attended by #RPU & #ARV.

“Miraculously the lone occupant wasn't seriously injured, thankfully they hit a tree and not another vehicle.”

https://www.wiltshirelive.co.uk/news/wiltshire-news/driver-arrested-after-car-hits-8673859

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

A driver has died after a crash on a country road on the outskirts of Nuneaton. The man, who has not been identified but is aged in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene in Purley Chase Lane in Mancetter yesterday afternoon (Sunday, June 12).

He was behind the wheel of a blue Mercedes saloon, which is understood to have left the road and collided with a tree. Emergency services raced to the scene and he was removed from the car.

However, he could not be saved and he was tragically pronounced deceased at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and they are being supported by specially trained officers.

Now investigating officers want to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time, around 4.20pm. "Officers are keen to speak with anyone who saw the collision, the vehicle and the manner in which it was being driven prior to the collision, or who has
dashcam footage of the incident," a Warwickshire Police spokesman said.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Dated 12:52, 12 JUN 2023, three months ago.

Are you looking for ‘evidence’ to support whatever agenda it is that you are trying to project?


swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

A driver has died after a crash on a country road on the outskirts of Nuneaton. The man, who has not been identified but is aged in his 30s,
was pronounced dead at the scene in Purley Chase Lane in Mancetter
yesterday afternoon (Sunday, June 12).

He was behind the wheel of a blue Mercedes saloon, which is understood to have left the road and collided with a tree. Emergency services raced to
the scene and he was removed from the car.

However, he could not be saved and he was tragically pronounced deceased
at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and they are being
supported by specially trained officers.

Now investigating officers want to hear from anyone who was in the area
at the time, around 4.20pm. "Officers are keen to speak with anyone who
saw the collision, the vehicle and the manner in which it was being
driven prior to the collision, or who has dashcam footage of the
incident," a Warwickshire Police spokesman said.

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

A car involved in a fatal crash which claimed the lives of four young people was travelling at speeds up to 96 mph before the driver lost control and hit a tree, an inquest has heard.

The yellow Skoda Fabia, driven by 21-year-old Joshua Parkes had caught the interest of a police patrol a few minutes before the deadly collision just before 9pm on October 13 2020.

Earlier, police had spotted the Skoda and found Parkes did not appear to be insured, however officers lost sight of the vehicle almost immediately.

A later investigation by the police watchdog concluded there was no evidence the police “caused or contributed” to the fatal crash.

Mr Parkes, who Black Country Coroner’s Court heard on Thursday sped along Bromley Lane, Kingswinford, Dudley, at more than three times the 30mph limit, lost control, ploughing through a lamppost and hitting a mature tree.

The speed of the collision, after “heavy braking”, was later calculated at 43mph.

Construction shed builder Mr Parkes, a provisional licence holder who only seconds before the events leading up to crash had answered his phone to a friend, suffered fatal injuries.

His passengers; Nathan Cartwright, aged 18, Lucy Tibbetts and Isabelle Floyd, both 16, all either died at the scene or later in hospital.

A fifth passenger, a girl, was left with serious injuries but survived.

In tributes read to court, powder-coating worker Mr Cartwright was described as “sensitive and kind-hearted” with a “cheeky smile and an infectious laugh” whose life was “cruelly snatched away”.

Ms Tibbetts, one of five siblings and originally from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, had overcome “relentless bullying” to take up an apprenticeship, and “had found a happy place to be in life” before the crash.

Ms Floyd, known as Izzie, had “the most infectious personality” and as a keen dancer had left behind “some amazing TikTok videos to cherish forever” before she was “so cruelly taken”.

An inquest, held by area coroner Joanne Lees into the deaths, heard Mr Cartwright had been the only person wearing a seatbelt in the car, which was heading to Kinver, Staffordshire.

However, the coroner heard expert opinion from a crash investigator that seatbelts would “not necessarily ensure survivability”.

Giving evidence, West Midlands Police senior collision investigator Andrew Salt concluded: “The primary cause of the collision was the speed at which (Joshua) Parkes deliberately chose to drive along Bromley Lane.”

Mr Salt, with 24 years’ experience, told how examination of roadside CCTV and dashcam showed that at times the Skoda was being “entirely voluntarily” driven on the wrong side of the road.

At one point Mr Parkes narrowly avoided a crash with an on-coming vehicle, while trying to take “the racing line” of the bend, on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Salt said the fact of the oncoming car meant Parkes had to steer back onto the correct side of the road “and it was that, that precipitated the loss of control (of the car)”.

Clarifying the point, Mr Salt added: “The Skoda could not have got around the bend at the speed it was travelling at, using the correct side of the carriageway.”

He added that as Mr Parkes negotiated the bends after that near-miss, his “interpretation is the driver felt he was going to strike the near-side kerb, approaching very quickly indeed and basically steered very abruptly to the right”.

At least two of the car’s tyres were later found to be under-inflated, including the front near-side which was up to only 17PSI – possibly from an undetected slow puncture – as well as the rear off-side.

It was his opinion low tyre pressures were “a contributory factor” to the crash.

The Skoda hit a kerb, clipping a bus stop post which ripped off the rear bumper, “felling” a reinforced concrete lamppost before a “substantial” impact with the tree.

The coroner concluded Mr Parkes’ died of misadventure – “a deliberate act which goes wrong” – while his the passengers’ died as a result of a road traffic collision.

Ms Lees said: “I am quite satisfied the actions of the Skoda driver were entirely of his own choice and one can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for occupants at the point the Skoda reached speeds of 96mph and travelling on the wrong side
of the road.

“I am entirely satisfied the cause of the collision were the actions of Mr Parkes, as the driver of the Skoda, and that the speed and manner in which he drove the Skoda were significant factors in the collision.”

The inquest heard the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out an investigation, because of the police’s presence prior to the collision.

In its report, the IOPC concluded it was “not in receipt of any evidence the police may have caused or contributed to the deaths” of those in the car.

The coroner said: “Whatever precipitated the actions of the driver of the Skoda, the Skoda was not being actively pursued or followed directly by the marked police car.”

https://www.nationalworld.com/news/death-crash-car-driven-at-speeds-up-to-96mph-before-hitting-tree-inquest-told-3362440

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Dated 27th Aug 2021, 13:26 BST
Updated 27th Aug 2021, 13:29 BST

So this ‘news’ is two years old and has no connection to cycling.

One must wonder at the morbid psyche that needs to post such material.


swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

A car involved in a fatal crash which claimed the lives of four young
people was travelling at speeds up to 96 mph before the driver lost
control and hit a tree, an inquest has heard.

The yellow Skoda Fabia, driven by 21-year-old Joshua Parkes had caught
the interest of a police patrol a few minutes before the deadly collision just before 9pm on October 13 2020.

Earlier, police had spotted the Skoda and found Parkes did not appear to
be insured, however officers lost sight of the vehicle almost immediately.

A later investigation by the police watchdog concluded there was no
evidence the police “caused or contributed” to the fatal crash.

Mr Parkes, who Black Country Coroner’s Court heard on Thursday sped along Bromley Lane, Kingswinford, Dudley, at more than three times the 30mph
limit, lost control, ploughing through a lamppost and hitting a mature tree.

The speed of the collision, after “heavy braking”, was later calculated at 43mph.

Construction shed builder Mr Parkes, a provisional licence holder who
only seconds before the events leading up to crash had answered his phone
to a friend, suffered fatal injuries.

His passengers; Nathan Cartwright, aged 18, Lucy Tibbetts and Isabelle
Floyd, both 16, all either died at the scene or later in hospital.

A fifth passenger, a girl, was left with serious injuries but survived.

In tributes read to court, powder-coating worker Mr Cartwright was
described as “sensitive and kind-hearted” with a “cheeky smile and an infectious laugh” whose life was “cruelly snatched away”.

Ms Tibbetts, one of five siblings and originally from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, had overcome “relentless bullying” to take up an apprenticeship, and “had found a happy place to be in life” before the crash.

Ms Floyd, known as Izzie, had “the most infectious personality” and as a keen dancer had left behind “some amazing TikTok videos to cherish forever” before she was “so cruelly taken”.

An inquest, held by area coroner Joanne Lees into the deaths, heard Mr Cartwright had been the only person wearing a seatbelt in the car, which
was heading to Kinver, Staffordshire.

However, the coroner heard expert opinion from a crash investigator that seatbelts would “not necessarily ensure survivability”.

Giving evidence, West Midlands Police senior collision investigator
Andrew Salt concluded: “The primary cause of the collision was the speed
at which (Joshua) Parkes deliberately chose to drive along Bromley Lane.”

Mr Salt, with 24 years’ experience, told how examination of roadside CCTV and dashcam showed that at times the Skoda was being “entirely voluntarily” driven on the wrong side of the road.

At one point Mr Parkes narrowly avoided a crash with an on-coming
vehicle, while trying to take “the racing line” of the bend, on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Salt said the fact of the oncoming car meant Parkes had to steer back
onto the correct side of the road “and it was that, that precipitated the loss of control (of the car)”.

Clarifying the point, Mr Salt added: “The Skoda could not have got around the bend at the speed it was travelling at, using the correct side of the carriageway.”

He added that as Mr Parkes negotiated the bends after that near-miss, his “interpretation is the driver felt he was going to strike the near-side kerb, approaching very quickly indeed and basically steered very abruptly to the right”.

At least two of the car’s tyres were later found to be under-inflated, including the front near-side which was up to only 17PSI – possibly from
an undetected slow puncture – as well as the rear off-side.

It was his opinion low tyre pressures were “a contributory factor” to the crash.

The Skoda hit a kerb, clipping a bus stop post which ripped off the rear bumper, “felling” a reinforced concrete lamppost before a “substantial”
impact with the tree.

The coroner concluded Mr Parkes’ died of misadventure – “a deliberate act
which goes wrong” – while his the passengers’ died as a result of a road traffic collision.

Ms Lees said: “I am quite satisfied the actions of the Skoda driver were entirely of his own choice and one can only imagine how terrifying it
must have been for occupants at the point the Skoda reached speeds of
96mph and travelling on the wrong side of the road.

“I am entirely satisfied the cause of the collision were the actions of
Mr Parkes, as the driver of the Skoda, and that the speed and manner in
which he drove the Skoda were significant factors in the collision.”

The inquest heard the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
carried out an investigation, because of the police’s presence prior to the collision.

In its report, the IOPC concluded it was “not in receipt of any evidence the police may have caused or contributed to the deaths” of those in the car.

The coroner said: “Whatever precipitated the actions of the driver of the Skoda, the Skoda was not being actively pursued or followed directly by
the marked police car.”

https://www.nationalworld.com/news/death-crash-car-driven-at-speeds-up-to-96mph-before-hitting-tree-inquest-told-3362440

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

A 12-year-old girl and a man have died after the car in which they were travelling hit a tree and overturned on a main road through Telford.

The crash happened in the Trench area of the A442 at 02:10 BST. The 36-year-old driver and his passenger were confirmed dead at the scene.

Two boys, aged 13 and 16, who were also passengers, were taken to hospital with substantial injuries.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact West Mercia Police.

The black Renault Clio was travelling northbound near to Wombridge interchange when it left the road, the force said.

The road was closed for a number of hours between the Trench Lock Interchange, heading south, and the northbound exit slip road just before the Wombridge Interchange.

PC Craig Byle said: ''Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this sad time."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-66715058

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Can’t quite see where the cyclist was involved in this incident.

What was the point of posting this?


swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

A 12-year-old girl and a man have died after the car in which they were travelling hit a tree and overturned on a main road through Telford.

The crash happened in the Trench area of the A442 at 02:10 BST. The 36-year-old driver and his passenger were confirmed dead at the scene.

Two boys, aged 13 and 16, who were also passengers, were taken to
hospital with substantial injuries.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact West Mercia Police.

The black Renault Clio was travelling northbound near to Wombridge interchange when it left the road, the force said.

The road was closed for a number of hours between the Trench Lock Interchange, heading south, and the northbound exit slip road just before
the Wombridge Interchange.

PC Craig Byle said: ''Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this sad time."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-66715058

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Two men have died after their car left an Oxfordshire road and hit a tree. The red BMW has been travelling on the A4130 between Bix and Nettlebed, near Henley, when it came off the road.

Both men, aged 22 and 19 and from Reading and Henley, were pronounced dead at the scene. Thames Valley Police is now appealing for witnesses to the incident, which took place at around 10.45pm on Friday (February 3).

PC Matthew Stansfield of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “Sadly two men have died following this collision. Our thoughts are with their families who have been informed and are being supported by officers. We are appealing for further
information in connection with this incident, and would ask anyone with further information to get in touch.

“We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the red BMW travelling prior to the incident or has seen the collision. Additionally if anyone has dash-cam footage we would ask them to please check it to see if it shows anything that
could assist. Please upload any footage to our online portal page. Or if you have information please call 101 quoting reference 43230052260.”

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

Two men have died after their car left an Oxfordshire road and hit a
tree. The red BMW has been travelling on the A4130 between Bix and
Nettlebed, near Henley, when it came off the road.

Both men, aged 22 and 19 and from Reading and Henley, were pronounced
dead at the scene. Thames Valley Police is now appealing for witnesses to
the incident, which took place at around 10.45pm on Friday (February 3).

Did any witnesses come forward? It’s been over seven months…if it happened this year…


--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

A SECOND person has died after a car crashed into a tree on a busy road.

A 23-year-old woman from Carshalton, London, who was a front seat passenger, died at the scene when a grey smart car hit a tree on the A264 Snow Hill, near the Duke’s Head at 8.50pm on Wednesday.

The driver, a 29-year-old man from Battersea, London, died on Friday after being taken to St George’s Hospital in London with life-threatening injuries

A man, 28, who was a passenger in the back seat, suffered multiple fractures and was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. Their families and next of kin have been informed.

Road closures were in place in the area while the scene was investigated.

Officers are appealing for anyone who saw the vehicle or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to get in contact by emailing: collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk and quote Operation Thorndon.

Now investigating officers want to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time, around 4.20pm. "Officers are keen to speak with anyone who saw the collision, the vehicle and the manner in which it was being driven prior to the collision, or who

has dashcam footage of the incident," a Warwickshire Police spokesman said.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

A SECOND person has died after a car crashed into a tree on a busy road.

So what was the tree doing on a busy road? Was it on a time trial?


--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Spike <aero.spike@btinternet.invalid> wrote:

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

A SECOND person has died after a car crashed into a tree on a busy road.

So what was the tree doing on a busy road? Was it on a time trial?

Good job the tree wasn’t in the peloton, eh?

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

An 87-year-old woman has been killed in a one-vehicle collision in Northumberland.

Northumbria Police received reports of the crash on the A68 north of Bullocks Sawmill, Hexham, at around 5pm on Tuesday 25 July.

It is understood that a silver Ford Fiesta Zetec was travelling northbound when it crossed onto the southbound carriageway and collided with a tree.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward, to establish the full circumstances of the collision.

The 88-year-old male driver of the vehicle was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The woman’s next of kin has been informed and are currently being supported by officers.

The road was closed in both directions for a number of hours but has since fully reopened.

A number of witnesses have already spoken to police, but officers are now asking anyone else who is yet to come forward to get in touch.

They are especially interested in hearing from anyone who was travelling in the area at the time and may have dashcam footage.

Sergeant Steven Chappell, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a tragic incident which has sadly led to the death of a woman.

“Our thoughts go out to her family and loved ones at this devastating time, and we will continue to support them in every way we can.

“An investigation has been launched, and we are committed to establish the full circumstances leading up to the collision, and speak to anyone who may have information that could assist.

“We are especially keen to hear from any passing motorists or witnesses who might have saw what happened, or have any CCTV or dashcam footage.

“Any information, however small, could prove key as part of our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website, or call 101, quoting log number NP-20230725-0885.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

An 87-year-old woman has been killed in a one-vehicle collision in Northumberland.

And what developments have there been in the seven weeks since this sad
event?

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

The A451 Minster Road was closed for several hours following the crash, which happened near the Wyre Forest Crematorium and Cemetery around 7.56am and saw a Blue Jeep Cherokee leave the road while travelling towards Stourport-on-Severn and hit a tree.

West Mercia Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service and Midlands Air Ambulance attended the scene, which was closed off to allow ambulance staff to administer advance life-support to the man, who was found in a critical condition.

However, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff, it became clear that the man could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival, crews discovered one car had been involved in a collision and the driver, a man, was in a critical condition.

“Ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life-support but unfortunately, despite everyone’s best efforts, it soon became apparent that he could not be saved and was confirmed dead at the scene.”

West Mercia Police have now launched an appeal for witnesses and have asked for anyone with information to get in touch through calling 101, emailing PC Chris Woolman or by getting in touch with Crimestoppers.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "Officers are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision on the A451 in Stourport-on-Severn this morning.

"The collision happened at just before 8am this morning (Tuesday 23 May) on Minster Road in Stourport-on-Severn and involved a Blue Jeep Grand Cherokee.

"The vehicle was travelling towards Stourport-on-Severn when it left the road.

"Sadly, the driver of the car, a man aged 61-years-old, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 10/09/2023 01:14 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

A car involved in a fatal crash which claimed the lives of four young people was travelling at speeds up to 96 mph before the driver lost control and hit a tree, an inquest has heard.
The yellow Skoda Fabia, driven by 21-year-old Joshua Parkes had caught the interest of a police patrol a few minutes before the deadly collision just before 9pm on October 13 2020.

Oohh... That's a long time ago.

And a Skoda Fabia doing 96mph?

Was the radar calibration checked?

Earlier, police had spotted the Skoda and found Parkes did not appear to be insured, however officers lost sight of the vehicle almost immediately.
A later investigation by the police watchdog concluded there was no evidence the police “caused or contributed” to the fatal crash.

If no police officer was driving the Skoda, that's hardly a surprise.

Mr Parkes, who Black Country Coroner’s Court heard on Thursday sped along Bromley Lane, Kingswinford, Dudley, at more than three times the 30mph limit, lost control, ploughing through a lamppost and hitting a mature tree.
The speed of the collision, after “heavy braking”, was later calculated at 43mph.
Construction shed builder Mr Parkes, a provisional licence holder who only seconds before the events leading up to crash had answered his phone to a friend, suffered fatal injuries.

Ah... so he was really just a qualified chav-cyclist. But fully
qualified for that.

His passengers; Nathan Cartwright, aged 18, Lucy Tibbetts and Isabelle Floyd, both 16, all either died at the scene or later in hospital.
A fifth passenger, a girl, was left with serious injuries but survived.
In tributes read to court, powder-coating worker Mr Cartwright was described as “sensitive and kind-hearted” with a “cheeky smile and an infectious laugh” whose life was “cruelly snatched away”.
Ms Tibbetts, one of five siblings and originally from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, had overcome “relentless bullying” to take up an apprenticeship, and “had found a happy place to be in life” before the crash.
Ms Floyd, known as Izzie, had “the most infectious personality” and as a keen dancer had left behind “some amazing TikTok videos to cherish forever” before she was “so cruelly taken”.
An inquest, held by area coroner Joanne Lees into the deaths, heard Mr Cartwright had been the only person wearing a seatbelt in the car, which was heading to Kinver, Staffordshire.
However, the coroner heard expert opinion from a crash investigator that seatbelts would “not necessarily ensure survivability”.
Giving evidence, West Midlands Police senior collision investigator Andrew Salt concluded: “The primary cause of the collision was the speed at which (Joshua) Parkes deliberately chose to drive along Bromley Lane.”
Mr Salt, with 24 years’ experience, told how examination of roadside CCTV and dashcam showed that at times the Skoda was being “entirely voluntarily” driven on the wrong side of the road.
At one point Mr Parkes narrowly avoided a crash with an on-coming vehicle, while trying to take “the racing line” of the bend, on the wrong side of the road.
Mr Salt said the fact of the oncoming car meant Parkes had to steer back onto the correct side of the road “and it was that, that precipitated the loss of control (of the car)”.
Clarifying the point, Mr Salt added: “The Skoda could not have got around the bend at the speed it was travelling at, using the correct side of the carriageway.”
He added that as Mr Parkes negotiated the bends after that near-miss, his “interpretation is the driver felt he was going to strike the near-side kerb, approaching very quickly indeed and basically steered very abruptly to the right”.
At least two of the car’s tyres were later found to be under-inflated, including the front near-side which was up to only 17PSI – possibly from an undetected slow puncture – as well as the rear off-side.
It was his opinion low tyre pressures were “a contributory factor” to the crash.
The Skoda hit a kerb, clipping a bus stop post which ripped off the rear bumper, “felling” a reinforced concrete lamppost before a “substantial” impact with the tree.
The coroner concluded Mr Parkes’ died of misadventure – “a deliberate act which goes wrong” – while his the passengers’ died as a result of a road traffic collision.
Ms Lees said: “I am quite satisfied the actions of the Skoda driver were entirely of his own choice and one can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for occupants at the point the Skoda reached speeds of 96mph and travelling on the wrong

side of the road.

“I am entirely satisfied the cause of the collision were the actions of Mr Parkes, as the driver of the Skoda, and that the speed and manner in which he drove the Skoda were significant factors in the collision.”
The inquest heard the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out an investigation, because of the police’s presence prior to the collision.
In its report, the IOPC concluded it was “not in receipt of any evidence the police may have caused or contributed to the deaths” of those in the car.
The coroner said: “Whatever precipitated the actions of the driver of the Skoda, the Skoda was not being actively pursued or followed directly by the marked police car.”

https://www.nationalworld.com/news/death-crash-car-driven-at-speeds-up-to-96mph-before-hitting-tree-inquest-told-3362440

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 10/09/2023 04:45 pm, Spike wrote:

Can’t quite see where the cyclist was involved in this incident.

What was the point of posting this?

He found it orgasmic.

Possibly several times.

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

A 12-year-old girl and a man have died after the car in which they were
travelling hit a tree and overturned on a main road through Telford.

The crash happened in the Trench area of the A442 at 02:10 BST. The
36-year-old driver and his passenger were confirmed dead at the scene.

Two boys, aged 13 and 16, who were also passengers, were taken to
hospital with substantial injuries.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact West Mercia Police.

The black Renault Clio was travelling northbound near to Wombridge
interchange when it left the road, the force said.

The road was closed for a number of hours between the Trench Lock
Interchange, heading south, and the northbound exit slip road just before
the Wombridge Interchange.

PC Craig Byle said: ''Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this sad time."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-66715058

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On 11/09/2023 11:25 am, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

An 87-year-old woman has been killed in a one-vehicle collision in Northumberland.

Northumbria Police received reports of the crash on the A68 north of Bullocks Sawmill, Hexham, at around 5pm on Tuesday 25 July.

It is understood that a silver Ford Fiesta Zetec was travelling northbound when it crossed onto the southbound carriageway and collided with a tree.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward, to establish the full circumstances of the collision.

The 88-year-old male driver of the vehicle was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The woman’s next of kin has been informed and are currently being supported by officers.

The road was closed in both directions for a number of hours but has since fully reopened.

A number of witnesses have already spoken to police, but officers are now asking anyone else who is yet to come forward to get in touch.

They are especially interested in hearing from anyone who was travelling in the area at the time and may have dashcam footage.

Sergeant Steven Chappell, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a tragic incident which has sadly led to the death of a woman.

“Our thoughts go out to her family and loved ones at this devastating time, and we will continue to support them in every way we can.

“An investigation has been launched, and we are committed to establish the full circumstances leading up to the collision, and speak to anyone who may have information that could assist.

“We are especially keen to hear from any passing motorists or witnesses who might have saw what happened, or have any CCTV or dashcam footage.

“Any information, however small, could prove key as part of our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website, or call 101, quoting log number NP-20230725-0885.

You had an orgasm whilst copying and pasting that, didn't you?

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Hampshire Police say a woman has died after being hit by a car when she left her vehicle to inspect a fallen tree which was blocking the road.

The woman, in her 40s, had stepped out of her own car at around 11.50pm on Wednesday night in New Odiham Road, near Alton.

She and another motorist had left their vehicles to examine the tree, when they were both struck by a white Vauxhall Corsa.
Child seriously injured after car involved in chase crashes into wall

The woman was killed and the second woman, who was in her 50s, suffered minor injuries.

Hampshire Constabulary is investigating the incident and appealing for any witnesses.

A spokesperson for the force confirmed the woman's family have been informed of her death and are being supported by specialist officers.

PC Jonathan Wood said: "This incident occurred on a quiet country road late at night.

"We would like to speak with anyone who saw this incident or the vehicles involved and would particularly like to speak with anyone who has relevant dash cam footage that could assist us."

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JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:

On 10/09/2023 04:45 pm, Spike wrote:

Can’t quite see where the cyclist was involved in this incident.

What was the point of posting this?

He found it orgasmic.

Possibly several times.

Pass the mind bleach, please.

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-66715058>

--
Spike

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Any developments in the last 10 months?

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

Hampshire Police say a woman has died after being hit by a car when she
left her vehicle to inspect a fallen tree which was blocking the road.

--
Spike

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Any developments in the last three-and-a-half months?

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

The A451 Minster Road was closed for several hours following the crash,
which happened near the Wyre Forest Crematorium and Cemetery around
7.56am and saw a Blue Jeep Cherokee leave the road while travelling towards Stourport-on-Severn and hit a tree.

--
Spike

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A young man has tragically died following a serious road traffic collision.

Police and paramedics were called in the early hours and found that a Renault Megane had crashed into a tree. A man in his 20s was found at the scene and died a short time later.

The incident happened at around 2am today (August 11) on Scafell Road in St Helens. Police investigations are continuing and the road remains shut between Moss Bank Road and Washway Lane.

Officers are asking motorists to avoid the area while the enquiries continue and are also appealing for information. The man's next of kin have been informed.

Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit told the ECHO: "Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family of the man who sadly lost his life this morning. They are being supported by our specially trained liaison
officers while the investigation commences.

"I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident or properties in the area that may have CCTV or doorbell footage to please contact us. Anyone who witnessed the collision or captured anything on CCTV or dashcam is asked to contact SCIU on (0151) 777
5747, or email SCIU@merseyside.police.uk.

https://www.lancs.live/news/uk-world-news/tragedy-young-man-dies-after-24727344

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