Cyclist with no helmet died after car collision in Stourport
A cyclist was riding fast at night – without a helmet or lights and wearing dark clothes – when he collided with a car, causing severe head injuries and leading to his death, an inquest heard.
The motorist whose vehicle collided with 24-year-old Lee Stead broke down as she described the tragic accident, saying she had no chance of avoiding hitting him.
Lee's parents, Neil and Debra, with whom he lived in Park Crescent, Stourport, faced the agonising decision of letting doctors turn off the life support system of their only son three days after the accident, which happened in Vernon Road, at the junction with Tan Lane, Stourport.
Teaching assistant Samantha Roberts told the Stourport inquest she was driving back from a 60th birthday at Stourport Cricket Club, with her 10-year-old daughter also in her car, and there were vehicles parked on either side of Vernon Road at about 10.20pm on May 11.
Mrs Roberts said: "In the corner of my eye I saw this figure in black.
"I slammed on the brakes. There was a Transit van on the right and cars parked on the left and I had nowhere to go.
"He was riding very, very fast and before I knew it he hit the bumper, bonnet and windscreen and landed on the pavement."
Mrs Roberts's husband Lloyd, who was following behind and was qualified in first aid, began trying to save Lee's life.
She sobbed as she said: "I was screaming 'Oh my God, oh my God' and my daughter had got out of the car – and Lloyd screamed at us to get back in the car."
She estimated she was travelling at 25mph and police vehicle examiner Michael Saunders confirmed her Renault Scenic could not have been going faster than 30mph and had no faults.
Mrs Roberts said a breath test at the scene had shown a 'zero' alcohol reading.
Mr Stead underwent surgery at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital but consultant in critical care Dr Laura Tasker said the injuries to his brain were 'unsurvivable' and he died at 7.55am on May 14, after his parents gave permission for his organs to be donated for transplant.
Worcestershire Senior Coroner Geraint Williams concluded that it was an accidental death.
Mr Williams said: "He was wearing dark clothing and didn't have a crash helmet or lights on his bike.
"He was cycling quickly in Tan Lane and crossed the road in front of Mrs Roberts in Vernon Road and, despite applying her brakes, she could not avoid hitting him. This was simply an accident with appallingly tragic consequences."
