Firefighters helped a paraplegic Paralympic athlete whose bike overturned on a notorious steep hill near Lofthouse today.
On call firefighters from Lofthouse, near Pateley Bridge, were called to Trapping Hill at 11.56am.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report said the unnamed athlete’s adapted recumbent bicycle “overturned while descending a steep hill after the tyre popped off the rim”.
The report added:
“Crew transferred male to a local farmer’s vehicle who then returned him to his adapted van.
“Male then returned to the scene where crew were able to secure his bike in his vehicle.”
With its stunning scenery and steep gradient, Trapping Hill is a popular but highly challenging route for cyclists.
A family needed rescuing from Trapping Hill in December last year when their car got stuck on black ice.
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Cyclist injured in crash with Mercedes at New Park roundabout
Police have appealed for witnesses to a collision involving a cyclist and a Mercedes at a busy roundabout in Harrogate this week.
The cyclist came off their bike at New Park roundabout just after 2pm on Monday.
According to North Yorkshire Police, the cyclist “took action to avoid the black Mercedes SUV, came off his cycle, and sustained minor injuries”.
The victim was travelling east on Skipton Road and the Mercedes entered the roundabout from Ripon Road in the Ripon direction.
A police statement said:
“We are appealing for witnesses to the incident or anyone who recalls seeing the pedal cyclist or Mercedes prior to the collision, to get in touch as soon as possible to assist the investigation.
“If you can help, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number NYP-12062023-0659.”
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Cyclist seriously injured in collision with van near Weeton
Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision near Weeton in which a cyclist was seriously injured.
It occurred on the A658 Harrogate Road between Weeton railway station and Pool Bridge on Monday, January 30, between 5.50pm and 6.15pm.
A North Yorkshire Police statement today said:
“It involved a van and a bicycle, which collided near to Riffa Business Park, resulting in serious injury to the cyclist.
“Anyone who witnessed the incident, or may have relevant dashcam of the collision or the van or bike involved, is asked to contact TC174 David Minto of North Yorkshire Police Road Policing Group.
“Please either dial 101, or email david.minto@northyorkshire.police.uk, quoting reference number NYP-30012023-0380.”
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Rescuers help injured mountain biker near Harrogate
A mountain biker had to be rescued when he broke his leg riding near Harrogate this week.
The cyclist came off his bike at Norwood Edge, which is a popular location for on and off-road cyclists.
Volunteers from Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association were summoned to help the man on Monday.
Pic: Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association
In a Facebook post, the association said:
“We received a call from Yorkshire Ambulance Service to assist with a 43-year-old male mountain biker who had fallen off his bike sustaining a broken leg.
“First team members on the scene carried out a primary survey while waiting for the team vehicles and the ambulance crew.
“The team assisted the crew to package casualty and then carry off to waiting ambulance. We wish him a quick and full recovery.”
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Harrogate Porsche driver jailed for causing death of cyclist
A Porsche driver has been jailed today after causing the death of a cyclist on the A168 near Boroughbridge.
James Bryan, 37, was rushing to get some shopping for his parents on May 10, 2020, when his Porsche Carrera 911 ploughed into the back of a bicycle ridden by married father-of-two Andrew Jackson, 36, York Crown Court heard.
Bryan was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after a trial in September. However, he admitted causing death by careless driving.
He appeared for sentencing at York Crown Court this morning, where he was jailed for nine months.
‘Distracted by something’
During the trial, which began last month, prosecutor Anne Richardson alleged that in the moments before the crash at Allerton Park, Mr Bryan must have been distracted by “something” because Mr Jackson was clearly visible.
She claimed that evidence showed he must have been looking at, scrolling through, or reading posts on social media.
Mr Bryan had taken cocaine and been drinking at his friend’s house in Cheshire the night before the fatal collision at Rabbit Hill Park.
A roadside test in the aftermath of the crash showed that although he wasn’t over the limit for either drink or drugs, there were traces of cocaine, or a cocaine breakdown product, in his system.
Ms Richardson claimed that Bryan, who celebrated his 35th birthday just two days before the accident, would have been impaired by the drugs in his system and from being hungover and tired from the alcohol and festivities the night before.
He was on his way to drop off some groceries at his parents’ house who were isolating during the covid lockdown when the accident occurred at about 1.40pm.
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Bryan, of St Mary’s Avenue, Harrogate, was arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He denied the allegation but admitted causing death by careless driving in that he didn’t leave enough room to drive around the bicycle.
Defence barrister Sophia Dower claimed that Bryan was in a “fit and proper state” to drive and was not using his phone at the time of the crash.
She claimed Mr Jackson’s bike had veered right from the edge of the road into the path of Mr Bryan’s black Porsche, and that her client “didn’t have enough time to react”.
The off-duty doctor who was at the scene said Mr Jackson had suffered a serious head injury and his helmet was broken.
Police knock ‘changed our lives forever’
Andrew Jackson
During the sentencing hearing today, a victim impact statement from Mr Jackson’s father, Paul Jackson, was read in court.
Mr Jackson said he and his wife, Ruth, can remember the knock on the door from police which he said “changed our lives forever”.
He said:
“He was only 36 years old when he was killed. He was in the prime of his life.”
Mr Jackson added that he and his wife “found it difficult to express how the loss has affected us”.
Mr Jackson’s wife, Jenny, told the court today Andrew was her “best friend and team mate” and that it was “so hard not having him around”.
She said:
“My children should be growing up to know what it feels like to be hugged by their father.”
In mitigation, Bryan’s defence said the defendant had expressed remorse and had suffered from “fragile mental health”.
Ms Dower said he had suffered from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder since the crash.
She said:
“If Mr Bryan could turn back the clock, he would do it in a heartbeat.
“Whatever sentence this court imposes today, we all know that Mr Bryan is going to have to live the rest of his life knowing that his careless driving killed Mr Jackson.”
Sentencing Bryan, Judge Simon Hickey said that Mr Jackson was “there to be seen” and not at fault for the collision.
Judge Hickey said a combination of tiredness and “interaction with a device” led to Bryan hitting Mr Jackson.
He said:
“That is why you hit Mr Jackson from behind.
“No blame is attached to him… because of your inattention he could have been avoided.”
Bryan was jailed for nine months, of which he will serve half before being released.
He was also disqualified for two years and ordered to pass an extended driving test before being allowed to drive again.
Police appeal as investigations continue into Cold Bath Road cyclist collisionInvestigations into a collision between a car and a bicycle on Cold Bath Road are continuing, two months after the incident happened.
North Yorkshire Police said a woman in her 50s was arrested and released under investigation while officers continue to make inquiries.
It follows the collision at the junction of West Cliffe Grove on Friday, August 12, between a white Vauxhall Viva travelling up Cold Bath Road from the Crown roundabout and a pedal cyclist coming down the road in the opposite direction.
The cyclist – a man in his 50s from the Richmond area – was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
An air ambulance landed on the Stray and most of Cold Bath Road was closed for several hours while police dealt with the scene.
At the time, officers appealed for the driver of a dark-coloured hatchback who stopped at the scene to come forward. They have now said they have traced the driver.
However, they are continuing to appeal for information from anyone who saw either the car or the bicycle.
Witnesses to the collision or anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 122201422867. Alternatively, email 001282@northyorkshire.police.uk quoting the same reference number.
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Harrogate Porsche driver who killed cyclist not guilty of dangerous driving
A Porsche driver who killed a cyclist while allegedly using his phone has been found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
James Bryan, 37, was rushing to get some shopping for his parents during the covid lockdown when his Porsche Carrera 911 ploughed into the back of a bicycle ridden by married father-of-two Andrew Jackson, 36, on the A168 between Wetherby and Boroughbridge, York Crown Court heard.
The prosecution claimed that at the time of the collision, Mr Bryan had been using his mobile and pointed to evidence that showed his Facebook and Instagram accounts were open.
A jury essentially had to decide the case on the single issue of whether Mr Bryan had been using his phone at the time of the fatal crash, which occurred on the afternoon of May 10, 2020.
Mr Bryan denied he was using his phone.
After deliberating long into the afternoon today (Friday, September 23), the jury found him not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. However, he had already admitted causing death by careless driving and will be sentenced for that offence in October.
Social media claims
During the trial, which began earlier this week, prosecutor Anne Richardson alleged that in the moments before the crash at Allerton Park, Mr Bryan must have been distracted by “something” because Mr Jackson was clearly visible.
She claimed that evidence showed he must have been looking at, scrolling through, or reading posts on social media.
Mr Bryan had taken cocaine and been drinking at his friend’s house in Cheshire the night before the fatal collision at Rabbit Hill Park.
A roadside test in the aftermath of the crash showed that although he wasn’t over the limit for either drink or drugs, there were traces of cocaine, or a cocaine breakdown product, in his system.
Ms Richardson claimed that Bryan, who celebrated his 35th birthday just two days before the accident, would have been impaired by the drugs in his system and from being hungover and tired from the alcohol and festivities the night before.
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He was on the way to drop some groceries off at his parents’ house who were isolating during the covid lockdown when the accident occurred at about 1.40pm. Ms Richardson said:
“The front of the Porsche collided with the rear of Mr Jackson’s bike and Andrew Jackson came off his bike, went up in the air and hit his head on the windscreen and roof of the car, and landed on the road behind the car.
“He was pronounced dead at the scene by an off-duty intensive-care consultant.”
“This is an incredibly sad case. A young mother has lost her husband and father to two (very young) children. Her in-laws have lost their only son.”
Mr Bryan, of St Mary’s Avenue, Harrogate, was arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He denied the allegation but admitted causing death by careless driving in that he didn’t leave enough room to drive around the bicycle.
Ms Richardson claimed Mr Bryan’s driving was dangerous because he “wasn’t looking at the road ahead of him” as his car approached Mr Jackson.
Died from head injuries
Mr Bryan – who had been at a birthday barbecue in Wilmslow the night before and set off for home early the following morning – called 999 moments after the accident and told a call operator he thought the cyclist was dead.
Other motorists, including the off-duty doctor and his medically trained wife, were on the scene in minutes and called police and an ambulance, but Mr Jackson had already died from head injuries.
Forensic analysis of Mr Bryan’s phone showed that it was unlocked in the moments before the crash and the Instagram and Facebook apps were open.
Mr Bryan was taken in for questioning and told police that Mr Jackson, who lived locally, “came out of nowhere” but then claimed the cyclist had veered into the middle of the road and that he had tried to overtake him, only for the cyclist to “swerve into my path”.
An accident investigator who carried out a reconstruction of the accident said the bike was not in the middle of the road, but on the edge of the carriageway, near a grass verge, and that Mr Bryan had not tried to move around the bicycle.
In one message found on Mr Bryan’s phone on the way back from Cheshire, he told a friend he was hungover from the night before and was “concerned about being late for his parents with their shopping”.
In another sent by Mr Bryan to a female friend while he was at the birthday party the previous night, he told her: “I’m so drunk I can’t see.”
Defence barrister Sophia Dower claimed that Mr Bryan was in a “fit and proper state” to drive and was not using his phone at the time of the crash.
She claimed that Mr Jackson’s bike had veered right from the edge of the road into the path of Mr Bryan’s black Porsche, and that her client “didn’t have enough time to react”.
The off-duty doctor who was at the scene said Mr Jackson had suffered a serious head injury and his helmet was broken.
Mr Bryan will be sentenced on October 21.
Jackson family statement
The Jackson family issued the following statement yesterday after the verdict:
“The outcome from today doesn’t change anything for us; we are still learning to live with the gaping hole in our lives left by Andrew.
“However, it is important we were here to represent Andrew, to get justice for him and to show just how much he is still loved and missed.
“We all deserve to feel safe on our roads and to make it home to our loved ones.
“We respectfully ask for time and space for our family to process the events of this week as we continue to grieve for our husband, father, son and friend.”
Cyclist remains in hospital after crash on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road
A cyclist remains in hospital more than a week after he was involved in a serious collision with a car on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road.
A section of Cold Bath Road was closed for several hours following the incident at the junction with West Cliffe Grove on the afternoon of Friday, August 12.
An air ambulance landed on West Park Stray to treat the man, who was taken to hospital.
The crash, on one of the main roads in Harrogate, was witnessed by numerous distressed bystanders, but details since have been scant.
The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Police for an update yesterday.
A police spokesman said:
“All I can confirm is that the investigation is ongoing and the cycle rider, a man aged in his mid-50s from the Richmond area, continues to receive treatment in hospital.”
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