PEDAL cyclist Mr. Willie Harrop aged 78, died under the wheels of a heavy goods lorry in Mersey Street, Warrington.

But the driver of the 32-ton wagon said he did not know anything about the accident until a passer-by waved frantically at him.

Coroner Mr. John Hibbert recorded a verdict of Accidental Death on Mr. Harrop, a retired engineer of Lovely Lane, Warrington, who died on November 8 last year.

A series of photographs taken from CCTV town centre video tapes were used at the inquest to build up an account of what happened immediately prior to the accident.

An HGV driven by Mr. Kevin Bolton, of Halifax, along Mersey Street towards Bridge Foot, stopped at the pelican crossing near the junction with Church Street.

Sgt. John Hayes told the inquest that Mr. Harrop drew up in a wide gap on the nearside of the lorry between the kerb and the lorry.

When the traffic moved off again, the goods vehicle moved towards the rider, closing the gap that had originally been avilable to him.

The movement of the lorry forced the cycle to strike the kerb, causing Mr. Harrop to fall from the cycle and into the road underneath the wheels of the HGV.

The police officer told the inquest that one of the lorry's nearside mirrors was incorrectly adjusted and turned in towards the side of the cab. The mirror only reflected the cab door, giving no view of the roadside conditions.

In an interview with police officers, Mr. Bolton admitted he never at any time saw the cyclist. He could not remember whether he had used his mirrors before moving off from the pelican crossing.

The first he knew of the accident was when a man began waving frantically at him.

Pedestrian Mr. Peter Johnstone said the cyclist seemed to panic after turning to look at the lorry. The handle bars moved anti-clockwise, the cyclist hit the kerb, fell off and went under the back wheels of the tractor unit.

The cause of death was given as multiple injuries. Proceedings have been brought against the lorry driver for driving without due care and attention.

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