Joshua Fletcher was struck by a speeding motorist while crossing a busy road. The driver, who was distracted by headphones, was traveling at 48mph in a 40mph zone. The young man sustained a fractured skull and experienced widespread brain injuries in the accident, ultimately being declared deceased at the location of the accident.
Despite evidence presented at the Newport Coroner’s inquest, which indicated that the driver was exceeding the speed limit by 8mph, the conclusion reached was that the 16-year-old’s demise was also attributed to Joshua’s choice to cross the road in violation of regulations while listening to music playing through his earphones. Furthermore, WalesOnline reports that the court was alerted by Richard Wyatt, the collision investigator from Gwent Police, about the absence of a helmet on the young man. An inquest from a motorist confirmed that Joshua was seen “pedaling at quite a rate” with “his head down” and that he “didn’t seem to be aware of the danger he was in.” Another eyewitness claimed that the teenager was “going at a fair rate stood up on his pedals” and that his “personal interpretation was that the cyclist misjudged the traffic lights.”
Paul Flynn, a resident of the area, sent letters to local Members of Parliament Jessica Morden and Ruth Jones, Newport Council, and Gwent Police, urging them to thoroughly assess the road’s safety shortly after the death of Joshua. Another teenage cyclist was involved in a collision with a motorist, highlighting the lack of safety measures for local cyclists. The mother of the 14-year-old victim, Christine, said, “The road is so dangerous; you would think that after young Josh dying a few weeks ago, people would be more careful.” Additionally, the director of Sustrans Cymru, Christine Boston, highlighted that “One of the main barriers is around safety and the fact that there’s no safe space.” She believes that “there will need to be a lot of investment in cycleways so that there are more segregated routes for walking and cycling.”
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