A woman cyclist has died after a collision with a car on a residential road notorious for speeding and “rat-running”.
She was rushed to hospital in a “life-threatening condition” on Thursday night but did not survive her injuries.
A police manhunt was under way on Friday for two men who were seen by witnesses to flee the car before emergency services arrived.
The collision happened at about 6.30pm on Thursday in Whiston Road, Hackney, near the north side of Haggerston park.
The Met police said in a statement on Friday: “Police were called at 18:41hrs on Thursday, 21 September to reports of a collision involving a car and a bike in Whiston Road, E2.
“Officers attended along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service.
“The cyclist, a woman aged 36, was taken to hospital for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, she sadly died.
“Her next of kin has been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
“Witnesses reported that two men, who had been in the car, left the scene before emergency services arrived. Enquiries are under way to locate them.”
One resident, Stephen Morgan, posted pictures on Twitter/X of an overturned car and medics on the scene.
He said: “Maybe this will finally make @hackneycouncil and @TfL do something about the absolute idiots that thunder along Whiston Road all damn day and night.”
Literally outside our flat. Maybe this will finally make @hackneycouncil and @TfL do something about the absolute idiots that thunder along Whiston Road all damn day and night. @HackneyAbbott @hackneygreens pic.twitter.com/XJsHpyZW5t
— Stephen Morgan (@stemorgs) September 21, 2023
Witnesses told how paramedics fought to save the cyclist’s life.
Officers have been searching for CCTV footage to piece together the events leading up to and after the fatal crash.
A worker at Acorn’s Local, which overlooks the scene, said officers had requested footage from the camera outside the shop.
He said: “There are blue flashing lights everywhere we are all in shock. The woman who died could have been a customer, we just don’t know at this stage.”
Mehmet Orfan, 41, who lives nearby, said there had been dozens of police on the scene after he had heard a “thud” and the scrape of metal.
He said: “When we saw the ambulances we realised it was serious and I said to myself ‘Oh no, not again.’ There were paramedics working to save the poor woman’s life, it’s a tragedy.”
Police initially cordoned off Whiston Road but it has now reopened.
Three women cyclists have been killed in recent weeks. The first, aged 27, died at the scene of a collision with a HGV on Battersea bridge on August 10.
The second died in hospital on Friday last week following a collision that morning with a car in Harrow Weald.
Two men have also died cycling in London this year. A rider of a Lime e-bike died following a collision with a construction lorry in Charlotte Street in May. The other hit a lamppost in Lewisham in January.
None of the cyclists have been named by police, apparently at the request of their families.
Residents have complained for years about drivers using Whiston Road as a short-cut for drivers travelling between the A10 Kingsland Road and Hackney Road.
Mr Morgan said: “As someone who lives on Whiston Road, I’d absolutely love it to be closed off as an LTN [low traffic neighbourhood].”
It is understood that Whiston Road is an old “quietway” – residential roads that were recommended for cycling – but no longer forms part of TfL’s new Cycleway network as it fails to meet TfL’s safety standards.
The crash happened between Queensbridge Road and Goldsmiths Row.
The Met said: “Anyone who witnesses the collision, or has other information that could help the investigation, is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 6490/21Sep.”
