Cyclist in Road Traffic Accident

A lift company boss has died after being struck by two vehicles while on a charity cycle ride from John O'Groats to Land's End.

Company director and father-of-two Graham Lees, 48, died on the A38 near Taunton. He was on the final days of his ride.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary confirmed that Mr Lees, the managing director of Banbury-based Cotswold Lifts, was raising money for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance at the time of his death. He lived near Warwick.

A spokesman for Cotswold Lifts said Mr Lees would be sorely missed by his family, friends and colleagues, not least for his irreverent sense of humour.

"His interests were many - including flying, motorbiking and raising money for charity," he said.

"He was very proud to have raised £10,000 in 2006 for Breast Cancer Care, a cause very close to home. He leaves a widow and two teenage children."

Mr Lees' page on the justgiving.com website showed he had raised almost £5,000 for the air ambulance service after again setting a target of £10,000.

Copyright © PA Business 2008

Stephen Nye from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "A death on our roads is always a tragic event, though this incident is all the more tragic , given that Mr Lees was riding in the course of a an admirable charitable cause.

"Cyclists are particularly vulnerable road users and there are still far too many fatal road crashes involving cyclists each year.

"Other road users should take extra care when cyclists are around, making sure they do not drive to close to them, that they look out for them when emerging from junctions and that they give them more time to complete turns."