Council Had Been Warned About The Poor State Of The Road Beforehand

An inquest has ruled that the poor state of a stretch of road on the A65 at Giggleswick, North Yorkshire was directly responsible for the death of a 51-year-old cyclist.

Martyn Uzzell was taking part in a charity bike ride from Lands End to John O'Groats when the accident occurred.

He reportedly hit a pothole that was around four inches deep and this caused him to lose his balance and fall into the path of an oncoming vehicle. He died of severe head injuries.

Coroner Rob Turnbull concluded that there was "no doubt whatsoever that the condition of the road on that occasion was the cause of the incident".

It has also been alleged that North Yorkshire County Council was warned about the pothole in advance of the accident.

Mr Uzzell's wife Kate said the lack of action from the local authority was "disgraceful" and this incident should not have happened.

"My husband was an experienced cyclist and was out doing what he loved, while raising money for charities close to his heart, but it has cost him his life," she commented.

Road safety organisations and motoring groups have voiced their concerns about the number of potholes appearing across the UK.

Expert Opinion

The conclusion of this inquest has highlighted very serious concerns regarding the condition of the road involved, as well as the tragic circumstances which led to the death of the cyclist involved. <br/> <br/>"It is vital that lessons are learned from this case, with the ultimate aim of reducing the risk of the same problems from happening again. <br/> <br/>"The Government and local authorities need to meet their responsibilities when it comes to the maintenance of all routes. <br/> <br/>"We have seen numerous cases in the past where potholes have played a part in causing injuries, not just minor injuries and it is vital that this is seen as a potential life-and-death safety issue and not an easy cost cutting measure." Neil Whiteley - Partner