Cyclist killed crossing busy dual carriageway

A cyclist was killed when he was hit by a car and flung into the air as he tried to cross a busy Black Country dual carriageway, an inquest heard.

Michael Stanley, aged 20, rode across the A4123 Birmingham New Road in Coseley at a pedestrian crossing while the traffic lights were on green and collided with the front of an oncoming Vauxhall Vectra in the outside lane.

Investigators said the crash on November 21 last year was caused "solely" by Mr Stanley, the inquest at Dudley Coroners Court heard yesterday.

His father, Thomas and brother, Jamie were both with him at the time, having visited his home in Wallbrook Crescent, Coseley.

Motorist Jonathan Walker, who was approaching the crossing near Sangwin Road when the accident happened, said: "As I was approaching, the cyclist pedalled into the road and you could see it was going to be very close and I thought it didn't look good. The next thing I saw he had been hit by a car."

Andrew Macnamony, who was driving the Vectra, said he had not seen him about to cross. He said: "I just remember getting to the pedestrian crossing and then bang, he hit me."

Michael's father told the inquest the traffic lights had turned red and it was clear to cross. But three drivers said they were green.

Pc Andrew Salt said: "It would appear that the collision was caused solely by the actions of the cyclist who chose to cross the carriageway when it was clearly inappropriate to do so."

A post mortem found 31mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in Mr Stanley's system and Pc Salt said alcohol could have played a part. He added Mr Stanley was wearing a hooded jacket, which may have obscured his view.

Black Country coroner Robin Balmain recorded a verdict that he died as the result of an accident.