Cyclist death
Police investigate collision at dangerous junction
ROAD ACCIDENT investigators have staged a re-enactment of the tragic incident which claimed the life of cyclist Heather Stronach at a notorious Portobello junction.
Heather, 36, died when her bike was involved in a collision with a lorry on Portobello High Street last November.
Inquiries into the fatal collision are continuing, and Police Scotland’s Collision Investigation Unit recently carried out a detailed study of the surrounding area and the accident hotspot at the junction of Sir Harry Lauder Road.
A lorry similar to the one involved in the accident, owned by Grant Construction, was transported to the scene on a low-loader vehicle and was filmed and photographed at the busy junction.
In March 2019, father-to-be Stuart Elliott, died at the same intersection when his bike was involved in a collision with an HGV tipper truck. Stuart, 40, had been cycling to work but received catastrophic injuries when he was knocked from his bike and died at the scene. HGV driver John Crowe stood trial accused of causing death by careless driving, but following a five day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court a jury found him not guilty.
Campaign group Spokes Porty described the junction as “the most dangerous in the city” for cyclists and said action to make it safer must be urgently prioritised.
Spokesperson Kirsty Lewin said:
“Spokes Porty was devastated by the deaths of Stuart Elliott and Heather Stronach - both travelling on their bikes in Portobello.
We are dismayed and frustrated that significant safety measures for cyclists are yet to be implemented at the Portobello High Street junction with Sir Harry Lauder Road where the collisions happened.”
Spokes Porty called for the complete redesign of the junction which should fully segregate cyclists from vehicles and said that design, planning and budget work should start now.
Kirsty Lewin added: “This dangerous situation is exacerbated by Portobello becoming an increasingly popular visitor destination, with the Prom often too busy with pedestrians to cycle on, and heavy through traffic on Portobello High Street. Many people cycle through Portobello, and many more would if they felt safe and comfortable.”
Police Scotland confirmed they had carried out a reconstruction of the incident and said they continue to appeal for anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting incident number 1829 of 2 November 2020. No one has been charged in connection with Heather’s death and the incident is subject to a report to the Procurator Fiscal.