E-bike rider killed in crash with horse and cart on ‘wild west road’ is named locally
Tributes have been paid to an e-bike rider killed in a collision with a horse and cart in a corner of east London described as ‘like the wild west’ by locals.
The victim, 46, was on Folly Lane, Chingford when he was fatally injured at 6pm Wednesday.
He has been named locally as Patrick and family and friends have laid flowers at the scene of the collision.
Patrick, described as a loving family man, is understood to have lived less than 100 metres from the scene of the accident.
One tribute said: ‘To the best dad ever’ while another grieving relative wrote ‘Patrick I will never forget (you). Until we meet again. May you get the best bed in heaven.’
The driver of the horse and cart, 26, has been arrested on suspicion of wanton and furious driving.
Tom, 39, a cyclist who uses the lane to get to work in Walthamstow told Metro at the scene of the collision: ‘It’s so dangerous along here. There are horses running, quad bikes racing, it’s like the Wild West.
‘There was a CCTV camera to catch fly tippers dumping here but someone shot it a couple of years ago. ‘
‘It’s so sad what has happened to that poor guy on the bike. I can’t say I’m that surprised though there’s always something going on here.’
The spot where the incident happened is a just off the A406 North Circular Road.
It is next to a reservoir, a travellers’ site and a cemetery.
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It is a secluded spot which has made it a magnet for fly tippers over the years.
Paramedics battled to save Patrick at the scene but his injuries were too severe.
Tom added: ‘The rubbish piles high and there are high hedges which provide cover for the fly tippers. But even though it is secluded quite a lot of cyclists come through this way and it can be a dangerous spot with vans driving through. The horse and cart thing is added danger. Not something you really expect.’
Police are appealing for witnesses and have asked a nearby petrol station for its footage.
Accident investigators are working to unravel the circumstances leading up to the collision.
A mother of four who lives nearby told Metro: ‘It’s a narrowish lane and you get kids on motorbikes or quad bikes and horses using it. It should be a quiet lane as it’s a no through road for cars but is a nightmare.’
Detective Sergeant Fay Cook from the Met’s Serious Collisions unit said: This is a tragic incident which has sadly resulted in the death of a man.
‘We have made an arrest and our investigation continues. We would ask that anyone with information, CCTV or dash cam footage to contact my officers.’
The offence of wanton and furious driving has a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
The offence can apply to a driver racing who injures others.