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Cyclist Claudia Comberti 'slipped on pedal' before crash | Cyclist Claudia Comberti 'slipped on pedal' before crash |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman was killed by a double-decker bus after her foot slipped on the pedal of her bicycle causing her to fall into its path, an inquest has heard. | A woman was killed by a double-decker bus after her foot slipped on the pedal of her bicycle causing her to fall into its path, an inquest has heard. |
Student Claudia Comberti, 31, was run over in the crash on Botley Road, Oxford, on 9 May. | Student Claudia Comberti, 31, was run over in the crash on Botley Road, Oxford, on 9 May. |
Bus driver Leslie Otto told Oxford Coroner's Court that she fell at such a "weird and unnatural angle" that he could not avoid hitting her. | Bus driver Leslie Otto told Oxford Coroner's Court that she fell at such a "weird and unnatural angle" that he could not avoid hitting her. |
Coroner Darren Salter recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision. | Coroner Darren Salter recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision. |
He said there was insufficient time and distance for the driver to have avoided hitting Ms Comberti by braking and that he had driven reasonably in the circumstances. | He said there was insufficient time and distance for the driver to have avoided hitting Ms Comberti by braking and that he had driven reasonably in the circumstances. |
But he added he would write to Oxfordshire County Council to see if anything could be done to improve safety at the junction. | But he added he would write to Oxfordshire County Council to see if anything could be done to improve safety at the junction. |
'Incredible' | 'Incredible' |
The court heard how Ms Comberti's right foot slipped on her pedal, causing her to lose balance and travel 2.5m (8ft) in the direction of the bus. | The court heard how Ms Comberti's right foot slipped on her pedal, causing her to lose balance and travel 2.5m (8ft) in the direction of the bus. |
The bus driver, Mr Otto, said he had noticed her getting into difficulty shortly after the traffic lights changed. | The bus driver, Mr Otto, said he had noticed her getting into difficulty shortly after the traffic lights changed. |
"When I saw the wobble my instinct was to pull right a little bit," he said. | "When I saw the wobble my instinct was to pull right a little bit," he said. |
But he told the court the trajectory of her fall was "unnatural" and "could not have been predicted". | But he told the court the trajectory of her fall was "unnatural" and "could not have been predicted". |
He added: "I'm just so sorry for what happened, but it all happened so quickly." | |
Mr Salter said she may have lost consciousness upon impact, before going under the vehicle's wheels. | Mr Salter said she may have lost consciousness upon impact, before going under the vehicle's wheels. |
She was declared dead by paramedics. The post-mortem examination found the cause to be head trauma. | She was declared dead by paramedics. The post-mortem examination found the cause to be head trauma. |
Days after the accident, more than 100 cyclists took part in a procession to honour the DPhil student, who also worked as a teaching assistant at the Environmental Change Institute. | Days after the accident, more than 100 cyclists took part in a procession to honour the DPhil student, who also worked as a teaching assistant at the Environmental Change Institute. |
Alexandra Avery, a friend and housemate of Ms Comberti, supplied a statement to the court in which she described her as "incredible", "passionate" and a strong cyclist, runner, and swimmer. | Alexandra Avery, a friend and housemate of Ms Comberti, supplied a statement to the court in which she described her as "incredible", "passionate" and a strong cyclist, runner, and swimmer. |
She saw her on the morning of the accident, and said Ms Comberti was heading for a meeting in Wytham Woods and would later be presenting her research to colleagues. | She saw her on the morning of the accident, and said Ms Comberti was heading for a meeting in Wytham Woods and would later be presenting her research to colleagues. |
"I said it sounds like a good day and she said yes," the statement read. | "I said it sounds like a good day and she said yes," the statement read. |