Landlord’s road plea after cyclist tragedy

A landlord has described a terrible accident when a cyclist was thrown off a bridge after colliding with a car.

Pete Turner is now calling for more speed enforcement on the “frightening” stretch of Stafford’s Lichfield Road where the tragedy took place.

The cyclist was killed when he was catapulted down a 30ft embankment after colliding with a car on Queensville Bridge late on Tuesday night.

The 31-year-old local man, who has not yet been named, sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, despite the best efforts of paramedics who arrived within minutes of the 999 call.

Mr Turner, the landlord of the nearby Spittalbrook Inn, was on the scene after a member of staff heard the impact.

The 55-year-old said: “Someone heard the bang and shouted to ring for an ambulance. Drivers coming over the bridge were doing 45 or 50mph and had to slam-on. It was frightening, to be honest.”

After the collision, the driver of the car involved, an 18-year-old girl from the Penkridge area, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of what police are describing as a motoring offence. She was released on police bail yesterday pending further inquiries.