Cyclist killed by bin lorry in Clerkenwell named as 'bright, brilliant and brave' PhD student at LSE

Cheistha Kochhar was described as “bright, brilliant and brave” in tributes as her devastated father confirmed her death
Cheistha Kochhar
X / @amitabhk87
John Dunne @jhdunne25 March 2024

An LSE student has been named as the cyclist killed in a collision with a bin lorry in central London last week.

Cheistha Kochhar, 33, originally from India, was on her way home from studies on her PhD in behavioural science when she was fatally injured in Clerkenwell.

She died at the scene, on Clerkenwell Road at the junction with A201 Farringdon Road, after the crash with the bin lorry on Tuesday afternoon.

Her father Dr SP Kochhar, Director General of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), wrote on X of being in London following his daughter’s death.

Mr Kochhar, also a former Lieutenant General, said: "Trying to collect the remains of my daughter, Cheistha Kochhar.

"She was run over by a truck on 19 Mar while cycling back from LSE, where she was doing her PhD.”

He said her death “has devastated us and her large circle of friends” as he called for loved-ones to share photos, videos and memories of her.

Police officers have appealed for witnesses of the collision to come forward or whoever has dashcam footage of the incident to get in touch. The lorry driver was interviewed at the scene andno arrests have been made.

The department head of Ms Kochhar’s course at the LSE Sarah Ashwin, described her as a “brilliant student” in a tribute on an online memorial page. She wrote: “Cheistha was a brilliant student – gifted, warm, hardworking, full of life and light. She was a model member of the PhD community, loved by everyone who interacted with her. We had high hopes would grow to be a reputed scholar. We are so sorry that these dreams will not be realised, but we will find ways to ensure she is not forgotten at LSE.

Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog, where she had spent a stint working, paid tribute to the student on social media.

He wrote on X: "Cheistha Kochhar worked with me on the #LIFE programme in NITI Aayog. She was in the #Nudge unit and had gone to do her PhD in Behavioural Science at #LSE. Passed away in a terrible traffic incident while cycling in London. She was bright, brilliant and brave and always full of life. Gone away too early. RIP.”

In 2022, cyclists formed a “human barrier” to protect other riders from vehicles in protest at the lack of action to improve safety on one of London’s most dangerous routes.

Cyclist Travis Nelson, 47, and his cat Sigrid were knocked off a bicycle a busy intersection between Clerkenwell Road and Goswell Road last November.

In July 2018, medics used battlefield techniques to save cyclist Sarah Doone, a TV technician, left crushed and bleeding under a cement lorry near the Old Street roundabout.

In September 2018, Great Ormond Street Hospital doctor Maria Bitner-Glindzicz was knocked off her bike and killed when a van driver opened his door – sending her swerving into the path of a black cab.

A cyclist in his 30s was seriously injured following a collision with a double-decker bus at the busy junction between Farringdon Road and Clerkenwell Road in August 2015.

Anyone who witnessed the latest fatal incident, or road users who have footage which captured events, are asked to call 101 or 020 8246 9820 @MetCC and quote CAD6903/19Mar.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in