Peter Reginald Knight

Peter Reginald Knight was knocked off his bicycle by a car that didn't stop on the A46 Kenilworth bypass on 3 February 1986.

A verdict of accidental death was returned.

He was hit on the A46 at the slip road to Thickthorn Island just before 6pm.

He was taken to Warwick Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Peter Knight had lived in Guson Road, Coventry. He had been cycling home from Sandpiper Formulations Ltd in Warwick where he worked.

However, after extensive inquiries, the police were unable to trace the vehicle which first knocked him off his bike.

At the time of the incident witnesses saw what they thought was possibly a red Ford Cortina Mark IV, S-type, accelerating up the slip road away from the scene, noting that the driver turned off his lights as he went.

The Coroner said:

He went on to say that he had the utmost contempt for drivers who failed to stop after an accident.

He said:

The Coroner also said that it was absolutely essential that riders of bikes and mopeds made themselves visible on the roads, particularly busy ones such as the A46.

Other evidence shortly before the accident stated that a cyclist had been seen near Thickthorn Island riding on the nearside carriageway of the A46, at which time it was dark and there was light rain, but the cyclist was not displaying lights, either front or rear. However, the Coroner noted that there was no evidence to suggest that that had been Peter Knight.

Forensic tests could not determine whether or not Peter Knight's dynamo lights had been on at the time of the accident or not, it being noted that his bike was severely damaged in the collision.

The pathologist said that Peter Knight died from head injuries.

His body was identified by his father who had recently arrived in Wiltshire 24 hours earlier to visit him. Initial identification had been difficult as his only possession at the time had been a handkerchief. He was thought to have had a cash card, some loose change and keys on him at the time, but those items were never found.

A bricklayer said that he had been following the mystery car and saw it swerve out into the road near the access to Thickthorn Island and then swerve back again and make off at speed without lights.

He said that he then saw an object in his headlights, which was Peter Knight's body and swerved to avoid it, but thought that he still hit his bike.

However, a lorry driver following the man had been unable to stop in time and ran over Peter Knight's body, although he said he was sure that none of his wheels ran over it.

He said that he then backed his lorry down the bypass and round the body to protect it from oncoming traffic.

The police later stopped a red Ford Cortina in Coventry that had some damage to the front nearside wing, but forensic experts were unable to link it to the accident. They noted that debris from the road didn't make it possible to determine the make of the vehicle that hit Peter Knight.