Differences of opinion have come to light after the inquest into the death of Auckland cyclist Jane Farrelly – who was killed after being struck by a truck – finished this week.
Coroner Gordon Matenga says there were two areas of consistent differences in evidence presented by the cycling group and that of the truck driver, Larry James Boulcott.
Farrelly, 50, died while on a group ride with her husband and friends from the Manukau Veterans Cycle Club, near Taupo last March, after a truck and trailer unit hit her bicycle, according to the NZ Herald.
The truck driver told the inquest in Hamilton he hadn’t had an eye examination in at least five years at the time of the accident. He later had a test which found he required specialist glasses.
Boulcott, 55, says he gave a group of cyclists “plenty of room” as he tried to overtake them on Poihipi Road.
Boulcott says the group of seven cyclists were riding two abreast about a metre in from the fog line and as he passed them going up a hill on Poihipi Road with at least half of his truck in the opposite lane.
Boulcott says he allowed “at least half a truck” in between the vehicle he was driving and two cyclists prior to coming across the group Farrelly was in.
Ian Farrelly, Mrs Farrelly’s husband, told the NZ Herald a different story. He says the riders had set off about 9am and were travelling in ‘single file’, shortly before the accident on Poihipi Road.
He told the inquest he was riding about 50 to 100 metres behind the leading bunch. It was his responsibility to warn the group of approaching vehicles from behind.
But Farrelly says he couldn’t hear the truck that would later collide with his wife. He also couldn’t yell loud enough for the riders in front to hear his warning.
Yolande Savage, who was riding directly behind Mrs Farrelly, says she saw her stand on her pedals and turn her head.
All of the cyclists who gave evidence said they couldn’t hear Boulcott’s truck as it approached and Savage said she first knew of it when she saw it in the corner of her eye.
“It was beside me and then I saw him hit Jane.”
The inquest concluded after two days of evidence and Coroner Matenga will now consider the evidence.
