4:22pm Thursday 9th September 2010
By Andy Carswell
THE road where a cyclist was killed by a driver is “scarred and worn” and “needs” street lighting, a court heard today.
Lewis Pluck, an off-duty policeman who discovered the body of Jim Fleming at the side of the A413 at Gerrards Cross on April 1 2009, told Aylesbury Crown Court he would often drive in the outside lane of the dual carriageway to avoid hitting the cyclist.
He said despite Mr Fleming's efforts to make himself visible by wearing a high visibility jacket and putting at least one light on the back of his bike, he would sometimes be “quite shocked” at seeing him due to the lack of light along the road.
Mr Fleming, a haywarden with Chalfont St Peter Parish Council, was killed after a car being driven by 37-year-old Ali Altuntas hit him as he cycled to work along the road at about 5.45am, jurors heard.
Mr Pluck, a custody sergeant at Uxbridge Police Station, said he would always see Mr Fleming cycling along the A413 when he returned home from a night shift.
But he said a lack of street lighting made 47-year-old Mr Fleming difficult to see.
John Barker, representing Altuntas, said to Mr Pluck: “In a statement you make the following point, and a very good one at that: 'I don't think the council are doing him any favours by turning the street lights off'.”
Mr Pluck replied: “I have always thought that along these roads, that they need some lights. The A413, in my opinion, should have lights on it.”
He added the state of the road was a cause for concern.
When interviewed by police in the aftermath of the accident Mr Pluck said: “I was travelling in the outside lane because of the potholes in the nearside lane. A few weeks ago my friend was driving home from work and he stuck his front wheel in a great big hole.
“It's a terrible road surface that needs re-surfacing as it's horrendous.”
He told the court he would usually travel along the road at 50 to 60 mph. The speed limit is 70mph.
When asked if he ever went at 70mph, Mr Pluck said: “No, not on that stretch of road. Aside from the large potholes, there are quite a lot of pools of static water.”
Mr Pluck said he first became aware of a possible accident when he drove over what he thought was a bike inner tyre tube, but was surprised when it made a “metallic” noise.
He turned around and drove back along the same stretch of road at 30mph, but said he had difficulty seeing the debris on the road.
The court heard he saw Mr Fleming's fluorescent jacket at the roadside, but initially thought it was covering a mound of earth.
Altuntas, of Leadale Avenue, Chingford, denies causing death by dangerous driving and an alternative charge of causing death by careless driving. The trial continues.
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