The fourth cyclist to be killed along one of the capital’s busiest cycle superhighways has been named locally as Brian Holt.
Mr Holt, believed to have lived in Poplar and worked as a hospital porter at Mile End Hospital for 40 years, was killed in a collision with a lorry while riding on cycle superhighway two (CS2) at about 4.40pm on Tuesday.
Flowers were laid at the scene of the incident with messages, one of which read: “Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Brian Holt”.
Pathologists are due to carry out a post-mortem examination today at Poplar Mortuary to determine the exact cause of death.
Police said the collision was believed to have occurred as a lorry moved off from stationary traffic and stressed the lorry was not turning into nearby Bancroft Road at the time.
Residents who lived near to the scene said they were “shocked” at what had happened.
Shafiqul Islam, 47, who lives adjacent to the scene of the incident at Ocean Estate, said: “I saw the body on the road and there was a bag not far from it.
“We were very shocked. I was sitting down for two hours afterwards just thinking about it. Everybody was shocked.”
Melissa Stevens, 32, said Mr Holt’s bike was “quite badly crushed”.
The driver of the lorry, who stopped at the scene, was due to be interviewed by officers.
No arrests have been made at this time.
According to statistics from the London Cycling Campaign, Mr Holt, 63, is the fourth victim along the CS2 route which stretches from Aldgate to Stratford.
Among those killed on CS2 was French student Philippine De Gerin-Ricard, 20, who was died at the junction of Whitechapel Road and Commercial Street in July.
Mr Holt is the ninth cyclist to be killed in London this year, the seventh in collision with a lorry.
Yesterday Mayor of London Boris Johnson unveiled a new fully segregated segment of the CS2 route that runs from Bow, Tower Hamlets, to Stratford, Newham.
Speaking about the death of Mr Holt, Mr Johnson said: “One cyclist fatality is one too many.”
Police enquiries into are still ongoing.
Anyone who saw what happened should contact the witness appeal line on 0208 597 47747.
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