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Motorcyclist dies

A MOTORCYCLIST died after a collision with two cars on Saxon Way, Andover on Friday morning (4 July).

The 25-year-old man, who lived in the town, suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which happened at 7.40am.

The man was travelling northbound on a black Yamaha motorcycle, which was in collision near the junction with Kiel Drive with a silver Renault Megane, also travelling northbound, and a silver Ford Focus travelling in the opposite direction.

The car drivers were both shaken but uninjured.

Police say the road was closed for around five hours while an investigation was carried out.

They are appealing for witnesses and information on the crash, and are particularly keen to speak to a pedal cyclist seen in the area at the time of the collision.

Anyone who saw the vehicles before the incident or witnessed the accident is asked to contact Pc Jonathon Peace at Weyhill Roads Policing Unit on 0845 0454545, quoting operation Peppercorn.

10:13pm Friday 4th July 2008

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Posted by: steve on 11:20pm Fri 4 Jul 08
as tragic as it may be did this happen close to the prvious fatalty on that road if so then it requires a roundabout both to protect the car driver and to stop motorbikes from using the power of the bike in dangerous areas,i am a local delevirey driver and the motorbikers that use this stretch of road from the roundabout at newbury road to the britax roundabout as a practice circuit is beyond a joke its time the police and the county council got to grips with it before another tradedgy occurs
Posted by: Caroline Cox, Saxon fields on 7:56am Sat 5 Jul 08
Two deaths in a year? This is exremely tragic, Something needs to be done, speed cameras need to be along this stretch of road. I use this road alot and only last week with my 3 yr old son in the car a motorcyclist over took me doing approx 50-60 mph. The approaching car had to slow down and pull in! I sincerely hope something is done to prevent further tragedies.
Posted by: steve dixon, darlington on 8:46am Sat 5 Jul 08
Carl was a good mate of mine and we grey up together, its sad to learn of his untimely death.

I remember this road always being dangerous when I was a kid, so no change there.

RIP Carl Williams
Posted by: darren, andover on 11:07am Sat 5 Jul 08
motorbike this motorbike that what about the car drivers that dont look , all the ads saying THINK BIKE but does any one pay attention? ive heard rumours and if there true the whole thing could have been avoided, R.I.P chesney
Posted by: John Watkins, Saxon Fields on 11:51am Sat 5 Jul 08
It's not the police's fault, it's not the county council's fault. This is a big wide road with a 40mph limit and excellent visibility - so there should be no accidents, yet the number of people in cars and bikes I have witnessed tearing down that road beggars belief! These aren't all young drivers either, I've witnessed mums on the school run, middle-aged men and commercial drivers all speeding down there too.

Each driver has a responsibility to drive within the law and their own capabilities, including anticipating the careless actions of others. I have no idea how this tragic accident unfolded but I bet it wouldn't have occurred if people just drove with a little more patience and understanding for other road users.

I personally would like to see the road markings changed to double white lines to prevent overtaking there. Alternatively a ghost island painted down the middle to separate the lanes might help - but a lot of people still don't know the law and continue to overtake on these.
Posted by: kirsty, Andover on 11:57am Sat 5 Jul 08
Its about time that this road a) either gets a roundabout or b) speed cameras.
Its nearly a year to the day that another person was killed due to being on a bike.
Someone should really look at the facts and realise that this road is a liability to young and old lives.
Next time it wont even be someone on a bike thats killed, it could easily be a car driver or pedestrian, as both bike riders AND car drivers speed up that road!!
Posted by: rebecca j, andover on 4:40pm Sat 5 Jul 08
I knew the bloke that died i went to the same secondary school with him he ways therr to help others,the road in which he died on is dangerous i drive along there evey morning to drop my little boy off to his aunties,but some of the times it's down to cars racing each other not motor bikes.If you ask me i blame the police when they going to start doing there job proberly ?
Posted by: sarah, andover on 7:32pm Sat 5 Jul 08
This road needs road calming and it needs its now. To many cars/motorbikes use this road as a racing circuit and it needs to stop before another young life is lost.
Posted by: BARRY WHITTINGTON, CHARLTON on 9:07am Sun 6 Jul 08
AS A PROFESSIONAL,I CONSTANTLY WITNESS EXCESS SPEED ON THIS STRETCH OF ROAD AND SPEED IS ALWAYS THE KILLER! HAMPSHIRE TRAFFIC OFFICERS DO AND WILL CONTINUE TO REPORT DRIVERS WHO DISOBEY MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS.
Posted by: Anon, Andover on 9:32am Sun 6 Jul 08
I am so very sorry for the loss of another young persons life, my heart goes out to his family & friends.

Arguing on here about who is to blame helps no one, it just causes more upset & anger. How many of you can hand on heart say you have never broken the speed limit, that you ALWAYS check your mirrors before pulling out, that you never get distracted by other people in the car, the radio, the phone?

You can't blame the police! They can't be everywhere at all times, we all have our own personal responsibilities, the police are always being condemned for wasting time with speed cameras instead of doing something uselful, no win situation as far as they are concerned.

Whoever it was that was driving the car has to live with what's happened & so does his/her family & friends, the family & friends of the young man, the professionals who had to deal with the consequences, the people like myself who see the flowers & the grief on the faces of people mourning, accidents like this change & affect so many peoples lives.

It is human nature to feel anger, hurt, frustration & confusion at times of such raw emotion as this. We all want someone to blame, to be able to make sense of a situation that has no sense, we want someone to take responsibility, someone we can focus the pain & anger on, none of this will bring him back, it just causes more anguish for those involved.

Love & blessings to all who are hurting, please don't add to their pain by sending more anger out with worthless finger pointing & blame.
Posted by: Sean, Saxon Fields on 8:29am Mon 7 Jul 08
I agree entirely with John. This road is not dangerous – only the people who drive it badly. For one, I am sick of having a quiet Sunday afternoon in the garden ruined by the screaming of high-powered bikes. The ring-road is more like a race circuit when the sun is shining. My sympathies to all involved on Friday – especially those who have to pick up the pieces.
Posted by: Rich, andover on 10:28am Mon 7 Jul 08
steve wrote:
as tragic as it may be did this happen close to the prvious fatalty on that road if so then it requires a roundabout both to protect the car driver and to stop motorbikes from using the power of the bike in dangerous areas,i am a local delevirey driver and the motorbikers that use this stretch of road from the roundabout at newbury road to the britax roundabout as a practice circuit is beyond a joke its time the police and the county council got to grips with it before another tradedgy occurs
well at 7.45 in the morning he was not using the road as a practise circuit but on his way to work you should have more respect rather than to assume he was racing
Posted by: Sarah, andover on 12:45pm Mon 7 Jul 08
Rich, Steve wrote 'i am a local delevirey driver and the motorbikers that use this stretch of road from the roundabout at newbury road to the britax roundabout as a practice circuit is beyond a joke' no assumption made that he was racing, just that some people do. Looking at where the tributes are placed I assume it was bewtween junctions. A roundabout would not have prevented this. My husband had a very bad accident approaching the roundabout at the Newbury end. All his own fault, going far to fast to go around it. So went over it. The biking fratenity just give a wry smile and blame everyone else but will still try and pass between cars travelling in opposite directions, get right up behind before it being clear to overtake. I know I have been on bikes that do it, I refuse to go on the back of one ever again.
Posted by: Susie, Andover on 2:10pm Mon 7 Jul 08
darren wrote:
motorbike this motorbike that what about the car drivers that dont look , all the ads saying THINK BIKE but does any one pay attention? ive heard rumours and if there true the whole thing could have been avoided, R.I.P chesney
It works both ways. I have had experience with bikers who suddenly appear out of nowhere as they are going too fast. Even on a dual carriageway they think they have the right to overtake cars through the middle of the road. I know a lot of responsible riders as well as the irresponsible ones and if both parties took a little thought then accidents might be prevented.

Also Andover needs speed cameras, they work in Newbury so why can't we get a few in the hot spots..

Please don't take this as a personal attack on this poor lad. I am replying to an original poster.

RIP
Posted by: RIP on 4:55pm Mon 7 Jul 08
both crashes pointed to the same thing drivers not looking . you can go 10mph on a bike but if you get hit by a car its gona hurt. i was knocked of my bike in a 60 limit doing 25 as i just pulled away and i had the same thing biker going to fast yada yada but i wasnt it was blane a simple a lady driver didnt look and knocked me of , but to add insult to injury about 2 weeks later another lady changed lanes and didnt look or signal and nearly knocked me of again.. thay say think bike for a reason because one minute its not there the next it is
Posted by: jo on 5:02pm Mon 7 Jul 08
Sean wrote:
I agree entirely with John. This road is not dangerous – only the people who drive it badly. For one, I am sick of having a quiet Sunday afternoon in the garden ruined by the screaming of high-powered bikes. The ring-road is more like a race circuit when the sun is shining. My sympathies to all involved on Friday – especially those who have to pick up the pieces.
Jo saxonfields also lives by the road
Thanks Sean totally agree..I used to have big trouble getting my son to sleep in the summer evenings cos all the motobikers were either having a race or doing wheelies...The road needs speed cameras everybody seems to speed.. and that would also make it quieter
Posted by: clare on 10:35pm Mon 7 Jul 08
Hold on a minite, lets stop looking for someone to blame and think for a moment of the young lad who has died, and his family who are mourning him. R.I.P
Posted by: cral ridding buddy on 12:23pm Tue 8 Jul 08
clare wrote:
Hold on a minite, lets stop looking for someone to blame and think for a moment of the young lad who has died, and his family who are mourning him. R.I.P
well said. i will only say this no one has said it has anything to do with speeding
Posted by: carls ridding buddy, andover on 12:24pm Tue 8 Jul 08
clare wrote:
Hold on a minite, lets stop looking for someone to blame and think for a moment of the young lad who has died, and his family who are mourning him. R.I.P
well said. i will only say this no one has said it has anything to do with speeding
Posted by: A Car Driver, Andover on 1:48pm Tue 8 Jul 08
darren wrote:
motorbike this motorbike that what about the car drivers that dont look , all the ads saying THINK BIKE but does any one pay attention? ive heard rumours and if there true the whole thing could have been avoided, R.I.P chesney
Half the time us 'car drivers' don't see the motorbikes as they are overtaking as such a dangerous speed all you hear is a noise going past which usually makes me jump.

The amount of times I have gone to overtake while indicating and some bike comes flying past nearly causing an accident.

Most of the motorbikes I have been on the road with can not stay in the traffic line but have to be ahead of everyone else and that is bloody dangerous.

Anyone dying is tragic but maybe it will make the motorcyclists realise what a danger than can be on the road and be more considerate to other road users.

Posted by: a car and bike driver, andover on 6:43pm Tue 8 Jul 08
A Car Driver wrote:
darren wrote: motorbike this motorbike that what about the car drivers that dont look , all the ads saying THINK BIKE but does any one pay attention? ive heard rumours and if there true the whole thing could have been avoided, R.I.P chesney
Half the time us 'car drivers' don't see the motorbikes as they are overtaking as such a dangerous speed all you hear is a noise going past which usually makes me jump. The amount of times I have gone to overtake while indicating and some bike comes flying past nearly causing an accident. Most of the motorbikes I have been on the road with can not stay in the traffic line but have to be ahead of everyone else and that is bloody dangerous. Anyone dying is tragic but maybe it will make the motorcyclists realise what a danger than can be on the road and be more considerate to other road users.
thats why thay say think one think twice think bike
Posted by: Kate, Andover on 9:27am Wed 9 Jul 08
What a tragedy - I feel for the family and friends and I don't for one minute think that anybody should be blamed as I have no idea what happened.

I drove past the spot later on in the day and it was lovely to see what I presumed were his friends sitting next the lamp-post (already covered with flowers) and it bought a lump to my throat to think that they are now having to mourn his untimely death.

I don't think that this road or even speed is to blame for accidents (unless of course, it is excessive speed of 50mph+); it's the way people drive and ride.

I've seen safe and dangerous riders as well as safe and dangerous drivers - not one group of people is to blame. I don't think traffic calming would be a good idea as the road itself is perfectly safe when other road users drive or ride safely; it's not just a question of speed - I've seen plenty of drivers using mobiles, putting on make-up and too busy sorting out their stereos.

It's not speed cameras we need, it's more police on the roads to catch bad drivers/riders.
Posted by: Shaun, Andover on 3:45pm Wed 9 Jul 08
I really think some people here need to realise that no one knows the cause so its pointless blaming anybody untill you know more. Also that nobody cares about screaming bikes ruining your sunday afternoons.

A young lad and a good friend has died here so please show some respect.

All my thoughts go to his family and friends. Carl, I'm gonna miss you buddy.
Posted by: anon, andover on 2:28pm Thu 10 Jul 08
quote
quote
well said shaun i knew carl "scot" quite well and some people not all, need to take into account that carls friends and family may read this so they need to get there facts right before assuming he was speeding.
Posted by: chesneys ridding buddy, andover on 6:05pm Thu 10 Jul 08
anon wrote:
quote
quote
well said shaun i knew carl "scot" quite well and some people not all, need to take into account that carls friends and family may read this so they need to get there facts right before assuming he was speeding.
thank you for that anon thats what ive been trying to say , i was one of chesneys regular ridding buddys and i can tell you im totaly gutted
Posted by: Del, Andover on 9:07am Fri 11 Jul 08
The planners made a big mistake with that stretch of road. They assumed that Saxon Fields residents would use the exit to the west of Kiel drive rather than the junction to the east. This is not always the case. The result of this is that people exiting to the east have to cross a road where vehicles are potentially doing 60 - 70mph.

Reducing the speed limit didn't deter people; after all it is a big wide open stretch of road where people feel safe doing 60 mph. If they just improved this junction with a roundabout this could be one of the safest roads in Andover.

I’ve also heard cars and bikes racing down that road in the summer and I live nowhere near the road. I wonder how many near misses there’s been between cars on this road? If two motorcyclists have died, I’m guessing there have been plenty.
Posted by: B, Andover on 12:45pm Fri 11 Jul 08
I cannot believe the cheek of some of these people. Have you no thought for the fact that a young person has lost his life in a tragic ACCIDENT . How dare you all assume that he was speeding - WERE YOU THERE? is the question I pose to all of you.

Scott was in my social circle of friends and although I didn't know him all that well he did not deserve to die.

RIP mate and my thoughts are with your family and close friends.
Posted by: Sean, Saxonfields on 7:04am Mon 11 Aug 08
I returned here after several weeks to see if there is any conclusion to this case. Shaun wrote (in response to my comments) "Also that nobody cares about screaming bikes ruining your sunday afternoons." I assume he means none of his biker buddies cares. I took retirement a couple of years early & moved here from London to get away from uncaring people - it seems I have not succeeded. Yes, it is wrong to cast aspersions without all the facts. But next time you are out on your bikes try behaving in a respectful manner – then you might get some respect back when things like this happen.
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