Cyclist killed on Tower Hamlets road; another injured in Lewisham

 
Cyclist killed: The scene on Commercial Road

A cyclist was killed in front of terrified schoolgirls during today’s rush hour after being hit by a lorry on a London arterial road.

It was witnessed by dozens of pupils making their way to school at about 8.20am on Commercial Road in east London, near to the junction with Arbour Square.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, despite the efforts of a first-aider to try to save him.

He has not been named and his next of kin have yet to be informed of his death.

A witness described how the children were “frozen in shock” just feet away from the body.

A Twitter user posted a photograph of a Dutch-registered lorry at the scene with a forensic tent in front of it.

Police arrested the driver.

The witness, a local solicitor who asked not to be named, said: “There were a lot of schoolchildren around.

“I dashed out of the office and saw these four girls huddled together on the traffic island, frozen and unable to speak, they were in total shock.

“There was a motorcylist who knew first aid who went over to try and help.

“He had a quick look at him but soon realised it was pointless.

“He told me it was immediately obvious that this chap was dead.

“A lorry driver coming the other way had a tarpaulin that he put over the cyclist’s body to preserve his last pieces of dignity.”

Commercial Road - one of the main eastern routes into the capital - was closed in both directions between Jubilee Street and White Horse Road while officers investigated.

By midday there were tailbacks in both directions.

Local resident Jonathan Lopez, 27, a journalist, said: “I saw two policemen carrying the corpse of the dead man.

“The police told me it could take several hours to clear the road.

“It’s a very heavy traffic road and there are no cycle lanes, I’m a cyclist and unfortunately it’s no surprise as it happens so often.”

Meanwhile officers from the Road Death Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses

They said: "It is believed both parties were travelling west into London at the time of the collision.

"Officers, LAS and London's Air Ambulance all attended but the male cyclist, believed aged in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Officers believed they know the identity of the deceased and inquiries are underway to trace next of kin.

"The driver of the lorry, a man, stopped at the scene and has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving. He remains in custody at an east London police station.

"Collision investigators are at the scene and enquiries into the circumstances are underway."

Anyone who witnessed the collision, or the events leading up to the collision, is asked to contact the Road Death Investigation Unit witness appeal line on 0208 597 4874.

In a separate incident, a cyclist was taken to hospital with leg injuries after colliding with a lorry and a car in Loampit Vale, Lewisham.

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