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POLICE POTHOLE DEATH

Cop killed trying to avoid potholes during bike ride when he veered into the path of an oncoming car

Coroner rules death of PCSO Stephen Lewis was accidental

A COP was killed when he veered into the path of an oncoming car to avoid a pothole, an inquest has heard.

Police community support officer Stephen Lewis was cycling with a friend on a family holiday when he knocked down.

PCSO Stephen Lewis was killed when he swerved to avoid a pothole while cycling with a friend on holiday
PCSO Stephen Lewis was killed when he swerved to avoid a pothole while cycling with a friend on holidayCredit: Wales News Service

They were cycling at speeds of up to 26mph when the 41 year old father approached a blind bend on a steep hill on the A3123 near Combe Martin, North Devon.

His riding companion Stephen Howell said he was 10ft behind his friend on the road which was "rough with potholes".

An emotional Stephen said: "He drifted, I am not sure why, to avoid potholes or the road was a bit slippery.

"We spent a lot of time training together, cycling together, at least once a week."

PCSO Lewis died from multiple injuries after the head on impact with the car.

Both the car and bike had no defects, the inquest heard.

A post mortem said he suffered a "most catastrophic blood loss", a torn aorta and significant neck injury when in the sudden impact.

The Exeter inquest heard from a police investigator that there was no evidence that PCSO Lewis, who served with South Wales Police, had ridden through the potholes.

But PC Michelle Innes said there was an area of "poorly conditioned road surface" on the road by the accident scene.

She said she could not say whether PCSO Lewis had ridden through the potholes and then braked harshly before veering across the road into the path of the Skoda car.

She said he may have gone around the potholes but this affected his line around the bend.

And she added the third possibility was that he was riding too quickly for the bend and braked harshly on a road which had been wet and slippery earlier that July day.

A passing nurse went to his aid but he was unresponsive and he died at the scene.

A Devon County Council report said there was a 'worn degraded road surface' where a 7.5 metre long, one metre wide section had been patched but the areas around the repairs had been 'washed away' and there were some potholes which were 5cm deep.

Devon coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland concluded Stephen's death was accidental
Devon coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland concluded Stephen's death was accidental

The road at Ridge Hill is a dedicated cycle route and the weather on the day was fine although the 'road was a bit slippery'. Toxicology reports showed no signs of alcohol or drugs in his blood.

The Devon coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland concluded it was an accidental death. She outlined the case saying that PCSO Lewis 'had been drinking the night before, riding along a surface that was slightly uneven which may have caused him to deviate'.

She told his family:" He was pedalling his cycle down Ridge Hill when he lost control on a left hand bend at the bottom of the hill and collided with an oncoming vehicle in its own lane.

"Speed was a factor and the condition of the road may have been a factor but I am not certain beyond the balance of probabilities."


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